A ROBBER who stabbed a jewellery shop manager during a raid has been warned he could be facing a life sentence behind bars.

David Parker, 46, was stabbed in the head and hand when he confronted masked raider Kevin Griggs, 38, on November 12, 2001.

Griggs burst into North Road jewellers in Durham City, and demanded that staff open the safe, after threatening them with a kitchen knife.

He had denied having anything to do with the raid, despite his DNA being found on a discarded mask used in the attack. But he was found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court after less than an hour's deliberation.

When the judge, Tim Hewitt, heard his previous convictions read out after the verdict, he said he was considering passing a life sentence.

Christopher Prince, prosecuting, told the court that Griggs was first convicted of two charges of assault and jailed for 12 months in 1987. In 1988, he was jailed for eight years for offences of conspiracy to rob, robbery and causing actual bodily harm. And in May 1994, he received a sentence of seven-and-a-half years for possessing a loaded shotgun in a public place.

The case was adjourned for the psychiatric and pre-sentence reports.

During the robbery, Griggs, 38, produced a knife and was challenged by two male staff members, resulting in a scuffle. It was then the manager was stabbed. The court heard that while Griggs made off with £3,850 worth of jewels, Mr Parker was taken to hospital where he received 11 stitches.

Griggs, of Morningside, Sacriston, was remanded in custody.