A MAN who acted as a look-out during a grocery store raid was yesterday told he will be jailed.

The warning was given to Clifford Anderson after he was convicted of taking part in the knifepoint robbery at the Co-op branch in Coxhoe, near Durham, last March.

Durham Crown Court heard that two female assistants were in the premises when a masked man entered, threatening them with the knife. He fled with a cash till drawer, which contained £80, while Anderson stood at the door keeping watch.

Witnesses saw two figures running from the premises, and the empty till drawer and a mask were found nearby.

Anderson, 31, was arrested after forensic tests on the mask revealed traces of his DNA. He denied robbery and explained the DNA match by saying he was pressured into making the mask.

Anderson said he used a pullover sleeve, which he tried on to line up the eye holes correctly, but denied being present during the raid.

But the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after an hour and 40 minutes' deliberation on the second day of his trial, yesterday.

After the verdict, Don MacFaul, for Anderson, asked for reports to be drawn up on his client, who the court heard suffered from epilepsy and also has a drug problem.

Mr MacFaul said: "You have heard of the circumstances of his conditions and the court may be assisted by the preparation of reports on him."

Agreeing to the request, Judge Tim Hewitt told Mr MacFaul: "Having observed him in court, it is clearly appropriate to have further information about his background and present circumstances, as well as to see if there is any truth in what he says about his drug addiction."

The judge told Anderson: "It is a serious matter and you will have to remain in custody.

"I do not want to give a misleading interpretation. It is not on the cards that you will not receive a custodial sentence, but the length of time you will be in may depend on what is stated in the report."

Anderson, of Chapel View, West Rainton, was remanded in custody to be sentenced on March 3