A BOTCHED hold-up at an Oxford newsagents failed when the would-be robber lost his nerve and fled yesterday.

Police said the scruffy man walked into Martin The Newsagent, in Banbury Road, Summertown, and demanded cash from a shop assistant at about 8.45am (WEDS).

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Oxford Mail, officers do not know if the tattooed criminal, who looked like a tramp, was carrying a gun - although he brandished a bag which had an object inside.

The alarm was raised by a customer who walked into the shop just minutes after the incident.

The customer, who did not want to be named, said: "I went in to get my paper and the woman behind the counter was obviously distressed. She told me what had happened and I went out and phoned the police.

"I came back to tell her I had rung the police and by that time, she had shut the shop. I stayed with her until the police and her husband arrived. She fainted a few times."

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the would-be robber produced a polythene bag, pointed it at the female assistant and demanded money.

He added: "A number of people entered the shop and the man panicked and fled. The incident was then reported to police one hour later. We do not think the item in the bag was a gun but it is important that we trace this man as soon as possible."

He said of the shop assistant: "She was obviously shocked by the incident but not hurt."

The tramp is described as white man of unkempt appearance, apparently drunk, with a tattoo on the back of his left hand.

He is in his late 30s with mousey blond hair, black jeans and a black bomber jacket.

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