A DESPERATE heroin addict resorted to raiding his local Post Office after his fed up mother refused to give him money to pay for his next drug fix.

But Daniel Robinson’s knifepoint demands for cash at the small store premises, in Murton, County Durham, failed due to the plucky response of the co-owners.

They pushed an advertising board in his direction, in front of the counter, and that was followed by an empty crate.

Durham Crown Court was told he fled the Station Road premises empty-handed, returning to his home on a nearby housing estate, and replacing the knife in a block in the kitchen.

But as the business partners recognised him as a customer over several years, despite Robinson trying to conceal his identity by wearing his hood over his head, they were able to give police both his name and address.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said despite the hood being pulled up, Robinson was recognised by his voice and mannerisms.

When police arrived at Robinson’s home asking about the raid, a short time later, his mother pointed to the knife in the kitchen block.

Mr Baker said that as the defendant was arrested and led away, his mother told him: “I’m not covering up for you anymore.”

She told the officers her son was a heroin addict, but over the preceding weeks she had refused to give him money to pay for the drug habit.

Prior to the attempted robbery, on the morning of February 2, he had been pestering her for cash, but she refused his requests.

He took the knife from the kitchen block and left the house, returning a short time later telling his family what he had done.

Mr Baker said: “His mother was distressed and said that it was because she wouldn’t give him the £40 he was asking for.”

Despite refusing to reply in his police interviews, 29-year-old Robinson, of Jupiter Court, admitted attempted robbery and possessing a knife, in public, at a recent hearing.

The court heard the post office owners of 15 years were left feeling they could not trust any customer as a result of the incident.

Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said with his desperation for heroin, it was not clear what the defendant’s state of mind was, at the time of the offence.

Jailing Robinson for 32 months, his first custodial sentence, Judge Christopher Prince sympathised with his mother, who was in the public gallery, and praised her for assisting the police.

Asked about the possible forfeiture of the knife, Judge Prince refused and ordered that it should be returned to Mrs Robinson.