A man was jailed for three years after lunging at a cashier and grabbing cash for the register.

Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told Magistrates' Court how Marcel Shepphard, of no fixed abode, entered the Happy Valley Mini Market at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, and gave the cashier a $10 bill to pay for a candy bar.

When she opened the register he lunged and grabbed $40 before she could close the register.

A customer tripped Shepphard, but he got up and ran into the parking lot where owner Joseph DaCosta with the help of a customer tackled Shepphard and scuffled with him until the Police arrived. He was arrested and transported to the Hamilton Police Station.

After the case, Mr. DaCosta, who was viciously beaten in an attack five years ago, said: "The attempted robbery is part of a disturbing trend.

"These things are happening everywhere. We are trying to make a living and these guys just want to steal it.

"If I hadn't had assistance he might have gotten away with it like the man who beat me up five years ago."

Mr. DaCosta was attacked on December 11, 2001, but the case was never brought to court.

Mr. DaCosta said: "I feel like these guys are getting more brazen and it's probably because the courts are too lenient. They haven't done anything to convict the guy who beat me over five years ago.

"They only get a $1,000 fine and we have to do all the work to make sure they don't come back on our premises."

He jokingly added: "We should be taking pictures of these guys and putting them up so they're recognised."

Shepphard, 46, has been in and out of prison since 1994 and pleaded guilty to attempting to steal from the store.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: "You've been released for similar offences and other convictions and you can not be deterred."

Mr. Warner sentenced Shepphard to three years in prison.

Mr. DaCosta said: "I am happy to hear that he got three years in prison, but that what's three years when he'll be getting out in one year on good behaviour?

"These things are happening everywhere, in different supermarkets on the island, but stories don't get publicised because they're worried about it seeming dangerous to shop there.

"It isn't dangerous, but we need the courts to take it seriously and give these guys more than a slap on the wrist."