Middlesbrough shop robber jailed for three years

Kenny Graham told the terrified assistant he had a gun, and demanded: "Just give me the f*****g money, get me the f*****g money."

The unemployed 21-year-old was said to have run up a drugs debt and was desperate for cash after being threatened about what he owed.

His lawyer told Teesside Crown Court: "He wishes to apologise profusely for the upset, and realises it must have been terrifying."

Jim Withyman, mitigating, said the former warehouse worker, who has 29 crimes on his record, has vowed to stay out of further trouble.

"He comes from a decent hard-working family, and the defendant is deeply ashamed of the embarrassment he has caused them," he said.

Judge Michael Taylor told Graham he had left his victim traumatised, and she now suffers panic attacks which require medication.

Graham struck at night in November at the Premier Store on Longlands Road, Middlesbrough, when the woman was working alone.

She said in a statement immediately afterwards: "I hope he is found so I can sleep better and carry on working without fear."

Later, she said: "I feel sick about the whole incident. It has affected me massively. I now suffer panic attacks at any time.

"I am struggling for work, but it is something I have to do because I need the money to pay my bills."

Graham - once jailed for violent disorder after clashing with police at an English Defence League rally in Birmingham - admitted robbery.

The court heard how pretended to reach for a gun from his jacket pocket and left the worker "a mess, crying and uncontrollable".

Judge Taylor told Graham, of Ottowa Road, Middlesbrough: "This was clearly planned and you threatened to use a weapon.

"She is finding it very difficult to come to terms with what happened. People like her perform a valuable public service and they are very vulnerable.

"The message has got to go out that those who commit this sort of offence will face lengthy prison sentences."