Victim of Falmouth knifepoint robber Michael Garry speaks about his ordeal

A FORMER student who fought off a knife-wielding robber in his bedroom has spoken exclusively to the West Briton about his ordeal.

Jake Goldsmith was awoken when serial knifeman Michael Garry leapt on him in bed and stuck the fierce blade to his neck.

Garry, of Trevethan Road, Falmouth, was out on licence from a nine-and-a-half-year sentence for three knife-point robberies when he broke into a student house on The Moor in the early hours last May.

He grabbed a 6in knife and went into Mr Goldsmith's bedroom, jumped on him, held the weapon against his throat and demanded £500.

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As they scuffled, Mr Goldsmith was injured, needing five stitches to his arm.

He said: "When I first saw the knife I thought, 'Holy s**t'.

"There was a bit of fear. I knew I was in a dodgy situation, but I accepted that and managed to stay calm.

"That probably saved me from worse injury."

After persuading the marauder to let him get out of bed, on the pretext of going to the cashpoint, they moved to the hallway.

"I think I calmed the situation, until he realised he was not in control," said Mr Goldsmith, 22. "He was violent and forceful.

"It got really uncomfortable. At that point I thought, 'If I don't get him off me now, I don't know what will happen'."

The victim was spared giving evidence and facing his attacker in court after Garry pleaded guilty and, on Monday, was jailed for 12 years for assault with intent to rob.

Prosecutor David Evans, for the CPS, told at Truro Crown Court: "He (Garry) was prodding the knife into Mr Goldsmith's abdomen.

"He then grabbed him around the neck, smashed his head against a wall and pushed the knife into the soft area of his eye socket, demanding 'give me your money, give me all you've got'."

Mr Goldsmith tried to disarm Garry. As they struggled he suffered cuts and wounds to his hands as well as his arm.

Housemate James Dowdell heard the shouts and helped wrestle Garry to the ground. They held him until the police arrived.

"I am glad we were able to handle it and restrain him and that someone like that who has done all those terrible things is not going to be able to do it again," said Mr Goldsmith.

"Garry was alternately whimpering, crying and screaming abuse," said Mr Evans. "He seemed to be under the influence of something."

When interviewed, Garry said he could not remember the incident, had been watching a football match, drinking and taking valium tablets and suffered a blackout, as he had on a previous occasion.

In 2001 Garry was sent to a young offenders' institution for violence and threw boiling water over an officer, causing severe burns.

A long history of offending included the knifepoint robberies, including stealing £7,000 from a female cashier.

Defence counsel Robert Linford presented reports from a consultant forensic psychiatrist and probation officer, and Father John Bielawski, parish priest at Falmouth and Helston, spoke of Garry's remorse and an "astonishing change".

Judge John Neligan told Garry he had petrified his victim, but accepted it was not necessary to impose an indeterminate sentence.

Garry would be eligible for release on licence in 2019.