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A man who stabbed a pharmacist during an attempted robbery at a pharmacy in Belfast has been jailed.

Anthony McCrea, who pleaded guilty to six charges following the incident at the pharmacy on the Antrim Road in Belfast in March 2022, was given a sentence totalling 12 years, including nine years in custody and an extended licence of three years, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

McCrea, 39, admitted six offences including wounding with intent, criminal damage, attempted theft and three counts of possessing a weapon in a public place.

The court heard he went into the pharmacy and asked a member of staff for a prescription for “James Watson”. However, the pharmacist became concerned about McCrea’s behaviour, told him no prescription for James Watson existed and locked the staff door.

The pharmacy also had a glass screen to separate staff on the counter from patients as a Covid measure but McCrea, having kicked the door, smashed the screen with a hammer before stabbing the pharmacist in the hand with a knife. The pharmacist needed stitches for the wound but made a recovery. 

Police stopped McCrea, who had a lengthy criminal record, two days later in a vehicle and found two knives in his coat.

He told the court he was using £500 of cocaine a day, owed money to drug dealers, had experienced a “difficult childhood” and suffered with mental health problems. He expressed remorse for his actions before the judge passed sentence.