A TERRIFYING armed robber who carried out shop raids while brandishing a bloody syringe has been jailed.

Jason Aldis traumatised his victims at Boots chemist and Martins Newsagents, both in Greenstead, when he robbed the premises on consecutive days.

The hooded thief left the pharmacy after four minutes with a cocktail of prescription drugs to take and to sell.

He made off with £100 from the shop before helping himself to tobacco, vaporising products and chocolate.

Judge William Kennedy, at Chelmsford Crown Court, said: "Anyone and everyone knows, as did you when you chose that weapon, what terror that strikes in the hearts of ordinary peaceful people. It's a truly fearsome weapon.

"At the time, you were a hopeless drug addict. You were so addled by drugs, you had lost the capacity to reason.

"I've spent many years looking at people like you through dark windows, very often saying how well they intend to do and how great the future is, and yet they return to court some time later having let themselves down.

"Your greatest challenge is to remember every day - you're a drug addict. One step backwards means for you, a plunge into the abyss."

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Aldis admitted two counts of robbery, and four counts of possession of a controlled Class C drug with intent to supply.

The home police officers arrested Aldis in was described in court as a drugs den.

Charlotte Davidson, prosecuting, explained after arrest he was seen trying to remove something from his anus before putting it into his mouth at the police station.

When officers forced him to spit it out, they realised it was a ball of drugs.

He hoped to make £500 profit by dealing in prison.

A prolific offender, Aldis, 31, has 20 convictions for 40 offences including a two-year custodial sentence for robbery.

There were also a string of misdemeanours such as breaching community requirements, shop lifting, drug possession and assault.

Richard Conley, mitigating, said: "He committed these offences in the pit of desperation and despair.

"Fearing he would return to being a rough sleeper, he was obligated by the person running the place he lived to come up with something by way of rent."

Mr Conley also outlined the steps Aldis took to rehabilitate himself in prison.

He added: "When we first saw him, he was a great deal scrawnier. He was 10st 4lbs and is now around 14st, and a picture of health.

"He's really taking good care of himself with a view to becoming a healthy, and productive, member of society."

Thanking the judge for his leniency, Aldis, of Berberis Walk, Colchester, asked whether the five months served on remand will count towards his final sentence.

The answer was yes, which could see him out in just over a year.