A man who tried to rob a stranger at knifepoint claimed he was “blacked out” from alcohol at the time.Tahj Toussaint, 24, approached Cody Powell on Parliament Street in Hamilton as he walked to Front Street for a taxi, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.Toussaint told Mr Powell: “Give me everything you got.”Mr Powell heard a blade open, the court was told. He grabbed Toussaint by the wrist and held his arm against the perimeter wall of Cabinet Office as the pair struggled.The scuffle continued until Mr Powell spotted a passing motorcycle and shouted at the rider to call the police.Mr Powell pushed Toussaint away and ran to Docksider Pub on Front Street, where he was able to get the attention of cleaning staff inside.Police later found Toussaint inside a car parked near the scene of the attack with a blue handled, four-inch folding knife in his possession.The incident happened on March 30 last year at about 3.45am.Toussaint, from Warwick, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of a knife, but claimed he had no recollection of the night’s events.He told the court: “I was just out with a few friends. I was having a few drinks because I wasn’t feeling myself.“I had more than I could have and I got to the point I don’t remember anything. I must have blacked out.”He added: “I woke up in the police station not knowing what happened. It’s not in my nature to rob anyone.”Toussaint told the court that at the time of the incident, he worked in the print room at The Royal Gazette and used the knife in his job.Toussaint’s aunt told the court the incident was out of character and that she was shocked to hear of the charges.Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe ordered a social inquiry report, a drug assessment and a mental health assessment on Toussaint.Mr Wolffe released him on $5,000 bail and ordered him to report to Hamilton Police Station twice a week. The case was adjourned until March.• It is /The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.