A 22-YEAR-old who committed a knifepoint robbery in the county has narrowly escaped jail.

Judge Jim Tindal said it was an "exceptional" and "one-in-a-thousand" case as he spared Ben Devenport a custodial sentence.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, said at 8.13pm on March 9 this year, Devenport went to Everyday Essentials grocery store in Lickey Road, Cofton Hackett.

Wearing a hood, Devenport went up to the counter and held up a knife, telling the shopkeeper Mohammed Ullah, to put notes in a bag.

Devenport made off with around £50 in coins, and £700 worth of scratchcards.

During this period, a customer had come in but left the store. Mr Aspinall said he watched Devenport leave and followed him to a property in Leach Green Lane, where police later arrested him.

Mr Ullah told police he had been scared and shocked by what happened.

David Jaffa, defending, argued there had been no direct threat of violence, and said Devenport had no previous convictions, and it had been a stupid mistake.

Judge Tindal said he could see it was "utterly out of character" and felt balancing everything he could suspend a two year jail sentence.

He placed Devenport, of Corinne Close, Rubery, on a six month curfew, and told him to pay £1,000 compensation, and full court costs of £535.