A 34-year-old man has been charged with robbery, assault on police, criminal damage, false imprisonment, threats to kill, common assault, aggravated burglary and theft. He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday, August 3.

Police said the charges relate to an incident at an off-licence in Carrickfergus on Friday evening. A male staff member was stabbed in the side with a screwdriver, and a female colleague had the tool pointed at her neck.

Detective Inspector Gallagher of the Criminal Investigations Department said that at 8.10pm, a report was received that a man had entered the store, grabbed a female employee from behind and held a pointed item to her throat while demanding money. She was forced into the back of the shop, where her colleague was working. Both were made to obtain cash, and the man began punching and kicking the male staff member. He was stabbed with the item, later confirmed to be a screwdriver.

The two workers managed to escape while the man was distracted. Response officers searched the area and spotted a man matching the description given by the staff. A foot chase followed, and when officers caught up with him, a struggle took place during which an officer was punched. The man was then detained.

Detective Inspector Gallagher said the response officers had done excellent work in locating the suspect quickly. He described the staff’s ordeal as terrifying and praised their presence of mind in escaping. Neither member of staff suffered serious injury. Police are continuing to investigate and have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting reference 1566 31/07/26.