A robber who held a knife to a shop assistant's neck in a Droitwich shop had served sentences totalling 15 years in the United States for violent crimes.

Gavin King went into Smart Ideas in the Salter Centre, Droitwich, and pretended to look at cards and teddy bears.

But he then grabbed Beverley Wiseman from behind, held the craft knife to her neck and demanded she open the till, said prosecutor Stephen Davies.

Mrs Wiseman managed to get away from King, who ran from the shop and was arrested in his firm's van.

Worcester Crown Court heard that his USA convictions included assault with intent to commit rape, assault with a deadly wea-pon and threatening to terrorise. Mr Davies said Interpol had provided the convictions but not the details of the offences.

Recorder Alan Parker said the sentencing judge must have them because King could be facing a life sentence or an indeterminate term for public protection.

He adjourned the case for eight weeks and asked that a letter be sent from the head of Droitwich's Crown Service to Interpol to speed up the process.

King, aged 41, of Lloyd Street, Small Heath, Birmin-gham, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, drink-driving, taking a vehicle without consent and driving uninsured.

He was remanded in custody. The defendant, who worked for a decorating firm, went into the shop on February 7.

When the robbery failed, he walked calmly outside still clutching the knife and was followed to a car park.

He was over the alcohol limit for driving when arrested. He had not turned up for work that day, and had taken the firm's van without permission as a getaway vehicle.

Tim Green, defending, said King insisted that the victims of his convictions in the States were not juvenile girls. King had a conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm in the UK which, added to the attempted robbery conviction, meant his barrister had to convince a judge he was not dangerous.

The recorder told King: "I don't want to impose a life sentence unless I have to - but if I've got to, I will."