A VALLEYS man admitted robbing a convenience store just yards away from his home.

Aaron Jenkins, 22, of High Street, Fleur-de-Lys, pleaded guilty at Newport Crown Court yesterday to robbing the Spar Store on the same road on June 4.

A second charge of possessing an offensive weapon has been dropped and he was remanded in custody until sentencing on July 16.

Shop worker Vikas Singh was injured in the incident.

As previously reported in the Argus, Mr Singh, affectionately known as Vicky, was working in the shop at around 4pm when a man walked in demanding cash.

Mr Singh refused and claims the robber told him to hand over his phone before smashing the left side of his head with a metal bar, causing bruising and swelling to his ear. Mr Singh, 25, then claims he fought the attacker off by throwing a stool at him from behind the counter.

The man made off with the till, which he ripped from the counter. A passer by alerted police and Mr Singh was taken to the Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital for an X-ray.

Despite his ordeal he was back at work the next day and said he received great support from customers.

A 27-year-old from New Tredegar, who was also arrested on suspicion of robbery following the incident, was released on bailed pending further inquiries.