A man has admitted a charge of attempted murder after a shopkeeper’s neck was cut during a robbery at his premises.

Matthew Liam Whelan had previously admitted wounding with intent but denied attempted murder.

But yesterday at Mold Crown Court Whelan, 29, of Willow Park, Gladstone Way in Mancot, admitted the attempted murder of shopkeeper Imtiaz Ul Haq, 58, at Costcutters in Chester Road East, Queensferry, on Thursday, December 8.

He has previously admitted robbery.

Sentence was adjourned and Whelan was remanded in custody by Judge Rhys Rowlands pending the outcome of the trial of co-defendant Leslie Peter Baines.

Baines, 47, of King’s Road in Connah’s Quay, denies the robbery charge and is due to go on trial next month.

The charges arise from a robbery on Deeside in which the shopkeeper suffered serious knife injuries to his throat during a struggle at the store.