A MASKED raider who tried to hold up a Chinese takeaway yards from his family's home was last night starting a three-year jail term.

Andrew Ariss pointed a replica Glock pistol at chef Heugo Chen and when his victim refused to hand over his takings, he pulled out a knife.

Mr Chen still would not give in to Ariss' demands, and he fled empty-handed from the Min Dhu, in Saltburn.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the chef quickly realised the ball-bearing pistol was not genuine, but his wife thought it was real and was terrified.

Judge Howard Crowson said Mr Chen was either a firearms expert or "rather naive" in reaching his conclusion so swiftly in the face of such terror.

The judge was yesterday shown detailed photographs comparing Ariss' gun to an authentic Glock, and said they were indistinguishable.

Ariss, of Amber Street, Saltburn, admitted attempted robbery, possessing an imitation firearm and possessing an offensive weapon on September 8.

The court heard he has previous convictions going back seven years for offences such as assault, carrying a knife and being drunk and disorderly.

His barrister, Graeme Gaston, told the court that Ariss was drunk when he tried to rob the takeaway and said: "Clearly, alcohol is the main problem.

"He is not someone who is bad at heart, he just needs to get a grip with the problem, combined with the personal difficulties he has.

"His girlfriend is due to give birth in April, which is a good incentive for him to get his head straight and stay out of trouble when he is released.

"Clearly, this must have been a very frightening incident, particularly for Mrs Chen, although luckily she left quickly to go and phone the police.

"Whether through accident, good luck or naivety, Mr Chen came to the view it was not a real gun, and he was right about that."

The court heard that Ariss was arrested shortly after near the takeaway, and his BB pistol and balaclava were found at his home.

Judge Crowson told him: "A lthough you were in an intoxicated state, there was a degree of planning here and a level of determination."