Five years for petrol station robber

Marcus Wood, 29, who admitted robbery, approached cashiers at the garage in

Bohemia Road, St Leonards, last August and demanded money from the tills.

Brandishing 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 Burke 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 Burke 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 that 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 Burke'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.