An armed robber who threatened a shop worker with a knife before fleeing with around £80 in cash has been locked up after he was recognised as a regular customer.
Jack Criddle walked into the convenience store in Darlington armed with the kitchen knife before demanding cash from the till.
The crack cocaine addict handed himself into police shortly after he targeted McColl's, on North Road, at 8.20am on Thursday, October 27.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the shop worker has been left too terrified to return to work after the 20-year-old threatened her with the knife.
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Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said: “The defendant pulled out a large kitchen knife and pointed it at her and demanded money – he said ‘I just want notes’.
“She was so shocked and panicking about what was happening that she was unable to open the till at first. She eventually managed to open it and put the notes on the counter.
“He picked them up and he left the shop. He had either £70 or £80,”
Miss Masters said Criddle was wearing a mask and had his hood up but another member of staff who was nearby recognised the defendant and the police were called.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was left distressed and unsure whether she would be able to return to work.
Criddle, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Durham, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article.
Stephen Hamill, mitigating, said his client suffered from poor self-esteem and mental health problems but accepted his drink and drug addictions exasperated the issue.
He added: “These are the words of Mr Criddle – ‘nobody should have to be put through what I put her through, I’m ashamed of myself.”
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Recorder Ashley Serr sentenced the defendant to three years and four months in custody for both offences.
“She was clearly distressed and broke down at times during her police interview, she was not sure whether she is able to continue working in the shop,” he said.
“This was a very nasty offence, a shop worker simply doing her job was threatened with a knife and made to hand over cash. Her distress is obvious.”
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