A KNIFE WIELDING robber has been convicted of attacking two Witney stores and cleared of robbing a shop in Eynsham.

Christopher Wain, of Richens Drive, Carterton, had denied two counts of robbery and two of possession of a bladed article and one of attempted robbery.

As his trial at Oxford Crown Court came to an end yesterday the 41-year old was unanimously convicted of robbing a Tesco Express in Witney on February 29 before failing to rob a Betfred in the town a week later.

He was also convicted of having a knife during the Tesco Express attack and cleared of a further count of having a knife and robbing a Co Op in Eynsham on February 27.

During the trial jurors were told that Wain had burst into each store wearing a make-shift balaclava before demanding cash and threatening violence on staff.

Prosecutor Anthony Heaton-Armstrong said: "During these robberies the victims of them were threatened with knives and inflammable liquids and the offenders wore face coverings, making it difficult, if not impossible, for the victims to identify them."

He added that hundreds of pounds of cash was taken during the Tesco robbery.

The attempt to rob, the court heard, took place at a Betfred in Witney before Wain fled the scene empty handed and was later arrested by police.

Another man involved in the trial, Daniel Gell, was previously cleared by the jury after presiding judge Recorder Ann Mulligan heard a submission that there was no case for him to answer.

Wain will be sentenced at the same court on January 24.