A MAN has been jailed for four years after threatening a shop worker with a broken bottle during a “terrifying” robbery.

Jordan Lands stole £260 from the till at Golden News, in Maldon Road, Colchester, on August 16 - hours after being released on bail for another crime.

Lands, 22, of no fixed address, admitted one count of robbery, saying he wanted to go back to prison to rethink his life.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard he had been loitering outside the shop, waiting until shopkeeper Subbulakshmi Mohan was on her own.

He then entered the shop and held the broken bottle in front of her face.

He shouted: “I’ll break your face, don’t try to call anyone. Open the till and give me the money.”

Whilst the shopkeeper was trying to get the right access code for the till, he continued to say: “Do it quickly or I’ll kill you.”

He admitted the crime, saying he needed the money to fund his drug addiction.

On the morning of the robbery, he had been released on bail from Warwick Police Station for an unrelated crime.

Mrs Mohan’s victim impact statement was addressed in court yesterday and in it she said she had difficulty sleeping after the robbery and was now frightened to be on her own. She said she had felt terrified.

Lands said he accepted full responsibility and accepted the shopkeeper felt considerable fear.

The court heard he had no family who wanted contact with him and was alone. He said he wanted to go back to prison for a long time.

Judge Charles Gratwicke sentencing him said: “The robbery took place in a shop you deliberately targeted to ensure there was only one individual.

“You went in armed with a bottle and demanded money.

“It certainly must have been a terrifying experience for the lady in question to be met by you brandishing a bottle.”

He said the court needed to decide whether he was a threat to the public.

He added: “I have no doubt at all there is a significant risk you will commit further specified offences. People are at risk from you.”

He was sentenced to four years in prison. After this he will be on licence, meaning he will still serve a prison sentence but can live in the community, for three years.