A father went on a bender three days after being released from prison and ended up trying to rob a petrol station with a fire extinguisher, a court heard.

Holding the extinguisher over his shoulder, Samuel Murphy demanded money but was foiled when a plucky cashier at Morrisons supermarket in Park Wood, Maidstone, told him: “You’ve got no chance mate.”

Police were called and the inept raider admitted: “I hold my hands up. I did a robbery.”

Murphy, formerly of Church Crescent, Harrietsham, was recalled to prison and now he is serving a further 28-month sentence.

A judge told him: “There is about your offending an element of desperation and reckless disregard to the realities of what was happening and you would inevitably be caught.”

"You've got no chance, mate" - cashier, to Murphy

Maidstone Crown Court heard Murphy had earlier assaulted his father Paul in a drunken rage.

Prosecutor Don Ramble said the 33-year-old railway worker was released from prison on licence on July 17 after serving a sentence for battery.

On July 20, he went to meet a friend and spent the day drinking. His father picked him up and while driving home he became agitated about text messages relating to his estranged wife.

He became abusive and punched his father and kicked him in the buttocks. His father then drove off and left him.

Murphy went to the petrol station at 10.30pm and picked up the extinguisher, walked into the shop and demanded money.

The cashier told him he had no chance but Murphy looked as though he might use the extinguisher as a weapon and helped himself to scratch cards.

Murphy told the worker he had lost his wife and had nothing to live for. He demanded cash and said the police would “get it” when they arrived.

Keith Middleton, defending, said Murphy was depressed after drinking a large of amount of lager.

He was dealing with his drink problem and anger management in prison.