A MAN has been sentenced to three years behind bars following an attempted armed robbery in Southend.

Dionysios Paraskevopoulos was jailed after threatening a 17-year-old by claiming he had a knife and gun in Queens Road, Southend, on February 1.

The victim fled after throwing a hot chocolate he had bought from McDonald’s in the face of Paraskevopoulos.

And the Basildon Crown Court jury, including seven women and five men, came to the unanimous decision Paraskevopoulos was guilty.

Judge John Lodge said: “A young man was walking down a road when you threatened him.

“The young man was brave enough to throw his hot drink over you.

“You threatened violence with a weapon.

“He suffered some emotional damage, which isn’t surprising.

“He is still upset for that.”

Paraskevopoulos, who appeared in the dock wearing a red and white chequered Polo Ralph Lauren buttoned shirt, also admitted to breaking into a car in Chelmsford on the same day of the crime.

Paraskevopoulos broke into the vehicle, which had items such as a dash cam and sunglasses stolen, because he wanted to go to prison in order to stop taking drugs.

Prosecutor Gabrielle McAvock said: “The defendant was linked to the vehicle by his blood being found inside.

“The defendant said he committed the crime because he wanted to get clean.

“He said he smashed the window but didn’t take anything from the vehicle.

“He said his only intention was to get arrested and not to steal.”

Puneet Grewal, mitigating, said: “This is a man who wants to get away from the system.

“He has a 13 and three-year-old daughter. His 13-year-old daughter knows where he is because she has seen him in custody.

“She told him ‘You’re not young anymore. Grow up’.”

Judge Lodge confirmed Paraskevopoulos, 37, also obstructed a police officer by giving a false name.

Paraskevopoulos was sentenced to four months for breaking into the car, along with a one month sentence for obstructing a police officer.

They will run at the same time to the three year sentence for the attempted armed robbery.