An alcoholic was so desperate for drink he robbed his local shop of two bottles of vodka while armed with a sickle, a court heard.

Stuart Maher was soon afterwards found in a stupor in a graveyard with the vodka bottles by his side. He had drunk about a third of one of them.

The 43-year-old, of Hope Avenue, Hadlow, was jailed for three years after admitting robbery and two offences of possessing a bladed article.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Benett Raj was working in Premier Store in the High Street in the village at about 7pm on May 26 when Maher walked in.

Mr Raj reminded him that he was barred for previously stealing from the shop.

“This was a terrifying and serious offence” — Judge Charles Macdonald QC

“At this point the defendant produced what he described as a sword about one-and-a-half feet long,” said prosecutor Bridget Todd.

“He said in a threatening manner: ‘I am going to get some vodka.’ He walked to the display and took two bottles.”

As he headed for the door Maher asked Mr Raj if he was going to call the police. He replied that he was.

Maher said: “Then call the police.” He left without paying £24.99 for the alcohol and cycled off.

He was later found asleep in the churchyard with the weapon, which turned out to be a sickle.

He told a police officer he was bipolar and an alcoholic. A Stanley knife was in his pocket. He said he used the sickle for pruning in his garden.

John Fitzgerald, defending, said there had been “no mucking about” by Maher as he had admitted his guilt immediately.

“He is a chronic alcoholic,” he said. “He says this was a cry for help. He was always going to be identified. He knew he would get caught.”

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said he disagreed with a pre-sentence report that there was a risk of Maher committing harm in future.

He told him: “This was a terrifying and serious offence. I would hesitate to find there is a serious risk you would reoffend violently, so there won’t be a public protection sentence.”

The judge added: “Alcohol is a lifestyle choice, not an illness. There are no other mental disorders. You have shown remorse.”