'Open the till or I'll blow you away'

Marcus Wood, 29, who admitted robbery, approached cashiers at the garage in Bohemia Road, St Leonards, last August and demanded money from the tills.

Holding what staff believed was a gun under his jumper, Wood shouted "You have three seconds to open the till or I will blow you away".

Hove Crown Court heard Wood, of Ashdown Road, in Bexhill, took a total of 105 before casually strolling out. He was arrested two days later.

Sarah Thorne, prosecuting, said: "Two members of staff were working in the shop in the service station.

"Clive Burt and his female colleague noticed a man hanging around and saw him looking at them.

"There was a lull in customers where the man acting suspiciously walked to the till.

"He appeared to have something tucked under his jumper. He pointed the item, which was still under his jumper, at them and said 'You have got three seconds to open the till or else I will blow you away .

"Mr Burt opened the till and took hold of a carrier bag which he put the money in and then passed to him.

"He then turned to the woman employee s till and she believed he had a gun. She did the same and handed the money over.

"He then casually walked out of the shop with 30 from Mr Burt s till and 75 from hers."

Miss Thorn told the court Mr Wood had been caught on CCTV camera and later picked out of an identity parade.

Sentencing Wood, who has previous convictions for shoplifting, dishonesty and burglary, Judge David Rennie, said: "I recognise this is by far the worst crime you have committed.

"What you did had the potential to terrify anyone working is such a vulnerable environment. They were easy targets.

"You indicated by words and gestures you had a gun and then indicated you would use it."

He ordered Wood to serve five years for the robbery.