A JUDGE has praised a brave Whitehaven shopworker who when she was confronted by a would-be robber claiming to have a knife told him: “You’re getting nowt!”

Mark Clark, 49, went into the news-agents shop on Woodhouse Road in Whitehaven on July 6 and demanded cash.

But shop assistant Tracey Ball repeatedly refused to cooperate with him and eventually sent him packing by telling the thug that her manager was in the rear of the shop, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of George Street, Whitehaven, admitted attempted robbery. He was jailed for 44 months.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined how Clark, who has 148 offences on his criminal record, walked in the Premier Store at 5.10pm, with his face hidden beneath the collar of his jumper.

“I’ve come for the money – open the till,” he announced.

When Ms Ball refused to open the till, Clark moved his arm to the back pocket of his trousers and said: “Open the till or you’ll get the knife.”

“Tracey ball remained resolute,” said Judge Nicholas Barker, summing up the case. He said she had shown commendable strength while working in the shop serving the public.

She did this to the point where Clark simply gave up, swearing at Ms Ball and walking out of the shop.

Brendan Burke, for Clark, said his only realistic mitigation was his admission of guilt. The court was told also that – despite her courage – Ms Ball had been deeply affected by the attempted robbery.

Suffering delayed shock, when she returned to work her legs turned to jelly and she felt sick. During a visit to her daughter she broke down and was shaking and crying uncontrollably.

The judge told the defendant: “I hope you understand, Mark Clark, that your actions that day have had a very significant impact on the life of this lady.”

Of Ms Ball, he added: “She met your threats – your appalling threats – with nothing but commendable strength and determination.”