Michael James Cardwell said he was “disgusted with himself” over the November 15 attack, which left the male owner of the Bellambi Village Food Store with fractured ribs, swelling, cuts and abrasions.

“I can’t believe I done it….I’ve done something to an elderly gentleman who’s been serving the community for a long time,” Cardwell told Wollongong District Court on Friday. He later admitted he’d intended to use the profits from the robbery to pay off drug debts.

The court heard Cardwell was wearing a blue mask and was armed with a large hammer when he entered the store just after 7am, demanding money.

As the victim stood up behind the counter, Cardwell hit him around the arms and shoulders with the hammer, delivering between 10 and 15 blows “with force”.

The man’s yells for help attracted family members from a nearby house, at which time Cardwell pushed the man to the ground and continued the assault, however fled the scene empty handed a short time later when his disguise fell off.

The man’s family contacted emergency services and he was taken to hospital where the full extent of his injuries was revealed.

Cardwell was arrested on January 5.

In a statement read to the court by his son, the victim said he’d been so affected by the attack he’d been forced to close his business.

“My shop was my life...my customers were my friends,” he said.

“But the unprovoked attack I experienced that day has mentally scarred me. I had no other choice but to shut up shop.”