A MASKED robber threatened a shop assistant with a knife, then apologised to her as he left the store, saying times were hard.

Crack cocaine addict Andrew Michael Reed also broke into a family's home, where he demanded money and then became involved in a violent struggle in which a man received knife wounds.

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that 26-year-old Reed had entered an off-licence in Clynes Road, Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, at about 8pm on December 12 and brandished a knife at a shop assistant.

Reed, who had crawled through a serving hatch to get behind the counter, then pushed her from behind and demanded she opened the till.

He made off with £810 in cash bags. As he left, he took hold of her hand and told her: "I am sorry for this, things have to be done. Times are hard."

On January 19, Reed, wearing a balaclava, broke into a house in Leighton Road, Grangetown, causing the burglar alarm to go off while a husband, wife and their two children slept.

He demanded money and grappled with the man, who fell to the floor after Reed hit his legs, allowing him to escape through a kitchen window.

Miss Mallett said the man realised his stomach had been cut. He also had an injured toe and lip.

Reed, of Bolckow Road, Grangetown, was arrested by police after fibres taken from a jumper worn in the robbery matched those recovered from a jumper worn by the shop assistant.

He was also identified in a police line-up for the Leighton Road incident.

Nigel Soppitt, in mitigation, said Reed, who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and burglary, had been released from prison and tried to find work to support his girlfriend and baby.

He said his client had been frustrated and began taking crack cocaine.

Mr Soppitt said: "He is not proud of what he has done. He is still a relatively young man who is not beyond redemption and wishes to change."

Judge Peter Armstrong said he accepted that Reed's remorse was genuine, but said he would have to serve a lengthy sentence.

He jailed him for four and five years, to be served consecutively, for the offences.

After the case Detective Inspector Colin Galloway, of Cleveland Police, said: "Andrew Reed is a dangerous man who left his victims severely traumatised and who, thankfully, is now off the streets."