A MAN jailed for a robbery in which he threatened to throw acid at a betting shop worker has received a five-month sentence cut.

Matthew Haymer was jailed for 49 months at Durham Crown Court last week after admitting robbing the lone Coral assistant, on August 1.

The court heard Haymer, 28, of Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, travelled to Durham and posed as a punter until another staff member and remaining customers left the Saddler Street premises, at 5.30pm.

Approaching the counter, carrying an open bottle of ‘murky’ liquid, he presented a note instructing the assistant to hand over cash, implying he would throw acid from the bottle over his face if he refused.

Haymer was handed £628 by the terrified assistant, but was arrested the next day after a police officer recognised him on cctv.

When the case came back to court, prosecutor Shaun Dryden confirmed the defendant indicated a guilty plea at his first appearance before magistrates and should have been given a one-third sentence discount rather than the 25-per cent deduction made at last week’s hearing.

Judge Jonathan Carroll, therefore, agreed to adjust the sentence to one of three years and eight months.