TWO Islington thugs have been jailed for six years each for stabbing a Holloway shopkeeper in the head during a �5,000 robbery.

Patrick Brennan, 40, of Corporation Street, Holloway, and Richard Conroy, 33, of Parolles Road, Archway, burst into a newsagent’s in Roman Way as the 57-year-old victim was working inside.

They held a knife to his neck, threatened to cut his throat then punched and stabbed him in the head.

The savage pair made off with �5,000 worth of drinks and cigarettes in the robbery at 7am on January 20 this year, but less than two hours later police spotted a vehicle fitting the description of the getaway car in New North Road, Islington. They found Brennan, Conway and a large bag of cigarettes and alcohol inside.

The pair were jailed on Monday following a trial at Blackfriars Crown Court. Detective Constable Kevin Johansen, from Islington robbery squad, said: “These bungling criminals returned to the area of their crime in the same car with the items of property still in the car.

“They have left an honest, hard-working citizen traumatised as a result of their drink fuelled attack.”

and I sincerely hope that this sentence sends out a clear message that serious violence will not be tolerated.”