A SHOPKEEPER helped police solve a series of crimes after he tackled a robber and held on to his training shoe.

Sunder Singh fought back when knife-wielding John Farrow tried to steal from the till.

The pair struggled on the floor of the Middlesbrough news-agents before Farrow broke free and fled, leaving behind a trainer and his baseball cap.

He was wearing odd shoes when police arrested him later that day, and they linked him to another two knifepoint robberies and a burglary with intent to steal.

Farrow, 23, of Holyrood Court, Middlesbrough, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after he admitted the four offences and a charge of failing to surrender to bail.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday how Farrow's crime spree started when he robbed two friends in Diamond Road, Middlesbrough, on November 29 last year.

Prosecutor David Brooke said he held a 6in knife to one teenager's neck and took £3, before he took a £500 gold necklace from the other friend.

Nine days later, he barged into a house in Beal Court, Middlesbrough, and demanded £20 from the four occupants.

Farrow was later arrested, but failed to turn up for an identity parade and was not seen again until he struck at Mr Singh's shop, in Diamond Road, on January 20.

He went in with a knife and punched the shopkeeper in the mouth before trying to steal from the till.

His barrister, David Lamb, said he was living alone at the time, had no friends, and spent all the money he received in benefits on alcohol.

He said: "He left his flat with the knives, not with the intention of using them in any robbery, but for self-protection.

"He was, at the time, feeling paranoid and vulnerable and thought he was about to be attacked by other unknown persons."