A robber who terrorised office staff with a knife and held an elderly woman hostage in demand for money has been jailed.

Thomas Mason, 26, burst into the housing benefits office in Shiney Row, Wearside, with accomplices Stephen Ambler and Kay Thompson, and threatened staff with a 9in kitchen knife.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how one woman cowered in the corner of the room, fearing she would be stabbed if no cash was handed over.

Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, told the court that Mason, who was dressed in John Lennon-style sunglasses, held the knife against her throat.

"There was a sufficient security system to force the trio to escape without any money," he said.

About two hours later, the group held up the post office in Langley Park, near Durham, during which Mason grabbed hold of an elderly lady and a note was pushed towards the cashier demanding money.

Ambler, 24, and Thompson, 34, both admitted conspiracy to rob, and Mason, 26, denied the same charge but was convicted after a trial.

Sentencing the trio Judge Richard Lowden said: "I have to concentrate on the victims here and your excuses say you were feeding your drug addiction. That is no excuse."

Mason, of Thrunton Court, Hetton, was on licence from a five-year prison sentence for his part in a robbery and was ordered to serve the remaining 12 months of that term. He was given a further eight years in prison.

Ambler, of Downs Lane, Hetton, was sentenced to six years and Thompson, a mother-of-four, also of Downs Lane, five-and-a-half years.