TWO Newport men who robbed a shopkeeper at knife-point were feeding their M-Cat habit, a court was told.

Christopher Yasin, 22, and Luke Orford, 26, both of Chepstow Road, pleaded guilty to the charge of armed robbery at a Newport convenience store on July 17 this year.

The two men entered the Lifestyle Express store on Clarence Place, Newport, at 2.30am and threatened the lone shopkeeper with a potato knife before they left with £40.

Prosecutor John Probert told Newport Crown Court that the two men were under the influence of drugs at the time and sought money to buy the drug mephedrone, known as M-Cat or Miaow Miaow.

“The store was quiet and there was no one but the proprietor in there at that time,” he said.

“The two men wore their hoods up and scarves across their faces.

“Defendant Yasin held the knife-a potato knife- towards the proprietor and said give me the “******* money.”

The court heard how the proprietor first thought it was a joke but then became fearful for his safety.

Yasin asked the proprietor to open up the till and the pair left with two £20 notes before telling the proprietor they would return it the next day.

When they left the store, the police were contacted and Yasin was arrested on July 19 while Orford was arrested on July 28.

The court heard how the complainant was left fearful for his safety and was ‘shaken up’ following the incident which the prosecution described as being ‘pre-planned.’

In mitigation Meirion Davies for Orford, said he is a ‘solitary soul’ who 'bows to peer pressure.'

He said a mitigating factor should be that despite the till being filled with money, the pair only took £40 - enough to buy M-Cat.

He said that Orford did not want to harm the proprietor.

Ben Waters for Yasin, said his client had mental health problems.

The Judge, Recorder Nicholas Jones, sentenced Orford to four years and three months imprisonment, of which he will serve half and ordered him to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

He sectioned Yasin under section 41 the Mental Health Act.

“This is a pre-meditated attack,” he said.

“The motive was to get money for drugs.

“It was a planned attack and you were both wearing hoods and scarves across your faces.”