A knifeman who twice stabbed a shopkeeper during a robbery has been told he might escape a prison sentence.

Neil Andrew Gordon carried out the raid at the Supermac store, in Grange Drive, Melton Mowbray.

The court heard that Gordon was mentally unwell and the judge asked the probation service to investigate the possibility of a community sentence, incorporating psychiatric treatment.

Gordon, of Drummond Walk, Melton, admitted the robbery, having a bladed article and possessing 1.89 grams of crack cocaine in September.

He was remanded in custody to await sentencing at Leicester Crown Court on March 13.

The victim was alone in his shop when Gordon came in and pretended to buy two packet of crisps, handing over a one-pound coin .

He suddenly made a grab for cash from the till, said Stewart Hamblin, prosecuting.

The shopkeeper tried to stop him, Gordon lunged at him with a six-inch knife-blade causing a puncture wound in his arm.

Mr Hamblin said: "The defendant caused a second injury, a one-inch slash wound to his arm."

Gordon (33) made off with £670 from the till.

The shopkeeper gave chase, but stopped when he realised he was bleeding.

Police arrested Gordon in Swift Close, Melton, the following morning. He was found in possession of three wraps of crack-cocaine.

Gordon made no comment in his interview, despite being shown stills of CCTV footage of the robbery.

The court heard he had 22 previous convictions, mainly for drug-related offences.

Mary Prior, defending, said Gordon suffered from a post traumatic stress disorder and a psychiatrist's report stated he was in need of cognitive behaviourial therapy.

Judge Michael Pert QC told Gordon: "I'm prepared to consider the possibility of dealing with you in a way that many people will regard as extremely lenient, but only because of your post traumatic stress disorder. If that were to fail, the prison sentence you would receive in its place will be lengthy."