A JUNKIE armed with a 12-inch carving knife who robbed a priest was jailed indefinitely yesterday.

Crack addict David Morgan, 28, had been given rent money three times before by Father Derek Turnham, when he went begging at the Sacred Heart Church in Middlesbrough.

The priest told police he was sure that Morgan would have stabbed him if he had not handed over his housekeeping money and food vouchers.

Morgan tricked his way into the presbytery on May 2 asking to use the toilet, and emerged brandishing a carving knife and demanding money, said prosecutor Richard Parsell.

He bundled the priest into the kitchen, saying: "I'm not afraid to use this knife."

Morgan looked at the cash and vouchers and said: "I need more money for drugs."

At that point a parishioner arrived and Morgan ran away, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Three weeks earlier, Morgan had robbed the Celebrations wedding cake shop in Grange Road, Middlesbrough.

During the robbery, he threatening lone assistant Leah Donachie with a blood-filled syringe which he said was contaminated with hepatitis B.

Morgan demanded: "Just give me the money out of the till or I'll stab you with this needle, I've got hepatitis B."

He fled with £99 from the till and £8 from her purse.

She told police that she was terrified of the syringe filled with a dark red liquid which was in her view at all times.

Morgan had only been released from prison on licence a few months before, said Peter Sabiston, mitigating.

After his arrest, he was recalled to prison and was not due for release until January 2009.

He had written to Fr Turnham and Miss Donachie, apologising and saying that he understood the terror that he had caused in his desperation for money for drugs.

Judge Les Spittle told him: "You present a serious risk of harm to the public for the future."

Morgan of Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, who pleaded guilty to both robberies, was given an indefinite jail sentence.

He must serve a minimum of four years before he can apply for parole.