A SHIFTLEADER said he was ‘terrified’ after a man allegedly threatening him with a knife before stealing cheese, a court has heard.

Tesco employee Mohammed Skkaf was speaking to a jury at Reading Crown Court where a 34-year-old man is currently on trial for one count of possession of a bladed article and one count of robbery.

The incident happened on January 22 this year at a Tesco Express in Clarence Road Windsor when Benjamin Frape allegedly entered the store with a knife in his waistband.

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It is the prosecution’s case that he told Mr Skkaf he would ‘bang him up’ before showing him the handle of the knife and then leaving the store with £84 worth of cheese without paying.

Frappe, of Vale Road, Windsor, has denied the charges. He has, however, indicated guilty to two charges of theft at the same store on January 11 – taking namely a £22 meat joint – and again on January 24 – taking namely £60 worth of dishwater tablets.

Opening the case, the prosecutor said: “The defendant is alleged to have robbed Tesco Express with a knife and robbed a member of staff before leaving the store.

“The facts of this case are straightforward. On January 22, the defendant entered the Tesco Express, he had previously stolen from the same store, he made his way to the cheese fridge and a member of staff followed him.

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“He had never seen the defendant before but was told he had previously stolen from the shop. The defendant started to swear at the member of staff who said he was just doing his job.

“The defendant then said, ‘Stop following me or I will bang you up’ and lifted his top to show a knife in his waistband.”

It is alleged Mr Skkaf then ‘backed off’ and Frape left the store with the cheese.

Taking to the witness stand on Wednesday (June 7), Mr Skkaf said: “I was frozen up. I was terrified.

“I thought it was getting serious and it needed to be handed properly. I was literally s******* myself.

“As soon as I sat that knife [I stopped following him]. After that I honestly had to take a breather for myself.”

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Questioning Mr Skkaf, the defence asked if said to Frape: “Come round the corner and I will smash your head in.” Mr Skkaf denied this.

The trial, which is expected to see the twelve-strong jury retire tomorrow (Thursday, June 8), continues.