A FRUSTRATED shoplifter relentlessly pursued a terrified shop manager with a knife, repeatedly lunging and trying to stab him in front of shocked staff.

David Phillips was forced to wield a metal price stand as he was pushed up against a display in a desperate attempt to defend himself.

Eventually, he conned Christopher Janaway into believing he had knifed him before the vicious attack broke off and he calmly walked out of the shop.

He was arrested after a woman assistant at a drop-in centre recognised him from stills published in the Echo.

Now Janaway, 25, has been locked up for at least three years after Judge Derwin Hope, passing an indeterminate sentence, said he could have easily seriously, if not fatally injured his victim.

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The manager’s ordeal at the One Stop convenience store in Bournemouth Road, Chandler’s Ford, began shortly after 8am on April 3 when Janaway, wearing a long overcoat and a beany hat, tried to steal a sandwich, unaware he was being watched by a security camera.

Prosecutor Tim Moores described how Mr Phillips stood in the way of Janaway who was “determined and aggressive”. He put out an arm to dissuade him from leaving but the shoplifter pushed forward and hit his arm, causing the sandwich to fall to the floor. Mr Phillips told him to get out and he left, only to return within minutes, brandishing a knife with a six-inch blade at waist height.

“Mr Phillips was terrified and, convinced Janaway would stab him, backed off,” said Mr Moores. Janaway kept lunging and trying to stab him as he retreated.

Mr Phillips eventually had to grab the pole to strike out at Janaway who still kept moving forward.

He eventually fooled his assailant by shouting out, “You’ve stabbed me, you’ve got me.”

Janaway suddenly stopped, turned round and left, picking up the rucksack he had taken off outside.

Mr Moores said stills from CCTV footage were printed in the Echo and a support worker at a centre providing assistance for homeless people recognised Janaway and the police were alerted.

Southampton Crown Court heard that since his arrest, Janaway had refused to co-operate with anyone in authority, including the probation service and a psychiatrist.

In court he had nothing to say.

Janaway, of Bellevue Road, Southampton, was convicted of attempted theft and attempting grievous bodily harm with intent. He had denied the allegations.

The judge told Janaway he posed a significant threat to the public. “If Mr Phillips had not taken evasive action, you could have seriously, if not fatally, injured him.

“You produced this knife and went for him in a determined and violent way, only stopping when you believed you had stabbed him.”