A thug who stabbed a shop worker in the neck when he refused to hand over cash during a 90-minute crime spree has been jailed for 10 years.
Clinton Purcell tried to carry out a string of raids around east London on January 12 but was foiled on each occasion.
He struck first at a post office in Forest Road, Walthamstow, threatening a worker with a blade at 5.30pm before fleeing empty-handed.
About an hour later he targeted a bookmaker in Romford Road, Stratford, but, despite wielding his knife, he was thwarted again.
At 7pm a shop assistant at a convenience store in nearby Fairland Road also resisted Purcell’s demands.
This time the knifeman attacked him, stabbing the man in his neck and shoulder before fleeing.
Two weeks later, Purcell was finally caught by detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad after he robbed a jewellery store in Chingford Mount Road, Walthamstow.
Today at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Purcell, of Handsworth in Birmingham, was jailed for a total of 10 years.
He had previously admitted GBH, assault, three counts of attempted robbery and one count of assault with intent to rob.
Speaking afterwards, Detective Constable Dave Crewe of the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “Purcell is a violent criminal who used serious violence and the threat of violence, with no consideration for the impact his actions would have on his victims.
“In a 90 minute period he committed a spree of attempted robberies and I am confident he would have gone on to commit more had he not been caught.
“I am pleased with today’s sentence; a dangerous, habitual, armed robber has been put behind bars where he no longer poses a threat to the public.”
