A Hamilton Parish man admitted a knifepoint robbery of a convenience store in court yesterday.

Kevin Robinson, 59, pleaded guilty in Supreme Court to charges of robbery and possession of a three-inch pocket knife.

The court heard Robinson entered Belvin’s Variety Store in Smith’s and threatened staff with the knife before taking $150 in cash. The incident happened on May 21.

Robinson, from Hamilton Parish, was at first charged with aggravated burglary.

But Charles Richardson, his lawyer, said the case was a “classic garden-variety robbery of a convenience store” and his client wanted to admit what he had done.

Robinson later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of robbery.

Mr Richardson asked for a social inquiry report and a drug assessment on Robinson and said it appeared the offence was an attempt by the defendant to get help.

He told the court Robinson had told him he had gone to a residential treatment centre earlier this year, but was told there would not be space for months.

Mr Richardson added: “He told them he wouldn’t get that far.”

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons remanded Robinson in custody for reports and adjourned the case until October.

Robinson was convicted of theft of a $360 sports shirt from Sports R Us in Hamilton in Magistrates’ Court last February.

He told the court he wanted help for heroin addiction and he was referred to the Drug Treatment Court.

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