A ROBBER who threw a full bottle of vodka at a convenience store worker - narrowly missing his head - repeatedly shouted "Who's the boss?" during the raid, a court has heard.

Lithuanian national Irimantas Vilkevicius was captured on CCTV robbing the Ashley Convenience Store in Bournemouth's Ashley Road late on May 13 this year.

The 28-year-old, who was with his girlfriend and a friend, was "pumped up and aggressive" when he walked into the shop and grabbed shopkeeper Edward Boydell by the collar.

Vilkevicius, who lives in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, was pushed away by his friend and walked to the back of the shop, where he picked up around six bottles of VS Vodka and attempted to leave without paying.

It is alleged that when his girlfriend tried to stop him, he shoved her and hit her in the face. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to assault by beating, and the charge was not proceeded with.

Vilkevicius then threw one of the bottles of VS at Mr Boydell, who ducked out of the way in time. The defendant went behind the counter and pushed the victim to the floor, raising his right arm as if to strike Mr Boydell, before taking two half-bottles of spirits and pushing over a display of chewing gum.

Throughout the robbery, he shouted: “Who’s the boss?”, prosecutor George Threlfall said.

The defendant left the store with the bottles while his friend and girlfriend attempted to pay Mr Boydell for the damage caused.

Moments later, Vilkevicius launched an unprovoked attack against Ionut Fodor, shouting that he was dangerous before throwing a glass bottle at the victim's head.

Mr Fodor, who was a stranger to the defendant and had been walking in Ashley Road, suffered a cut which required four stitches.

Vilkevicius appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentence after admitting robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

It was heard that Mr Boydell had not felt able to return to his job after the incident.

Judge Brian Forster QC said he was concerned Vilkevicius, a long-distance delivery driver, didn’t understand the seriousness of the offences.

“You were very drunk, which clearly affected your behaviour, but what you did was in every sense shocking,” he told the defendant.

“It’s clear to me you terrorised the shopkeeper.”

It is “apparent” that Vilkevicius “does not realise the seriousness of the situation”, Judge Forster added.

Sentencing the defendant to two years in prison, the judge said: “Your case will be reported to the Border Agency, who will consider your future.”

Vilkevicius briefly refused to go to the cells after the hearing and attempted to leave the courtroom.

Following the hearing, Detective Constable Lucy Hale, of Bournemouth Criminal Investigation Department, said attacks on shop workers were not tolerated by police.

“Irimantas Vilkevicius was responsible for two violent attacks on innocent members of the public, one of whom was a shop worker just trying to do his job,” she said.

“We will not tolerate violence of this nature and are committed to investigating offences such as this and bringing offenders before the courts.”

Chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, James Lowman, said: “We are seeing a worrying increase in attacks where people working in shops are abused, threatened or attacked just for doing their job. I am pleased that this offence has been met with a custodial sentence, which hopefully sends the message that such attacks are serious and will be met with effective punishment.

“It is appropriate that this news comes during Respect for Shopworkers Week, run by the union Usdaw to draw attention to the human consequences of incidents like this and to urge MPs, the government, the police and the courts to take these attacks seriously.”