THE Magistrate’s Court yesterday praised the actions of four customers who came to the aid of a pair of young shop assistants terrified by two abusive men who refused to leave the Candy Shop on the Bridge.

Unknown to the staff and customers, Vincent Carey, 21, and an 18-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were high on drugs and had knives on them.

In court yesterday, the teenager was sent to youth detention for a total of eight months while Carey, of no fixed address, was given 14 weeks.

‘Without the commendable assistance of the members of the public, the effect on those two young women would doubtless have been worse,’ said Judge Philip Robey.

Advocate David Domaille, for the teenager, who is of no fixed address, said his client regretted what he had done. He said that at the time the defendant’s drug-taking was spiralling out of control and that he now accepted he needed help.

Advocate Chris Green, for Carey, said his client had little or no recollection of coming into possession of the knife and was shocked when it was found. He stressed that the defendant had no intention of committing robbery and had not used or even brandished the knife.

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