Richard Farrell pulled out a knife and demanded cash from the terrified worker.

12:03, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Updated: 12:05, Thu, Aug 6, 2026

A CCTV image of Farrell confronting the shopkeeper

Richard Farrell, 28, entered the shop wearing a T-shirt as a mask (Image: SWNS)

A topless thug who held up a shopkeeper with a knife and threatened to "chop" his throat has been jailed. Richard Farrell, 28, entered the shop wearing a T-shirt as a mask, demanding money and waving a blade.

He shouted, "I will chop your throat and stab you", before grabbing shopworker Harsh Antil, who was behind the counter at Diamond Convenience Store in Didcot, Oxford. Mr Antil was left terrified after the ordeal, during which three bottles of gin were stolen.

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Farrell, of Didcot, was jailed for 54 months on July 31 at Oxford Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and being in possession of a knife in a public place.

Julian Lynch, prosecuting, told the court that another man also entered the shop and stole some cans of alcohol, and Mr Antil told both men to leave.

Richard Farrell

Farrell, of Didcot, was jailed for 54 months (Image: SWNS)

Farrell refused and picked up some cans of vodka and pulled out a kitchen knife from his pocket. He shouted: "Give me all the cash."

Mr Lynch explained that Farrell swung the knife towards Mr Antil, who backed away.

Farrell then picked up the bottles of gin, made more threats and left the store.

Mr Lynch said: "Mr Antil was in fear for his life. He thought he was going to be stabbed and killed."