A COLCHESTER man who was involved in a “terrifying” robbery at a convenience store in the city has been jailed for six years and three months.

Gavin Booker was one of two men, both wearing masks and carrying knives, who stole £100 cash and £500 of cigarettes from St George’s Store in Canterbury Road in February this year.

The shop owner, who was stacking shelves when the men entered the store, was grabbed by the second man who was never identified, said Simon Gladwell, prosecuting.

The victim had struggled and grabbed hold of the knife the unidentified man was holding and suffered a cut to the palm of his hand.

Gazette: Knife point - one of the robbers, who was never identified by police, holds shopkeeper Jay Kanesalingam at knife pointKnife point - one of the robbers, who was never identified by police, holds shopkeeper Jay Kanesalingam at knife point (Image: St George's Stores)

Gazette: Frightening - the sentencing judge said Booker's attack was 'terrifying'Frightening - the sentencing judge said Booker's attack was 'terrifying' (Image: Essex Police)

The shop owner was forced to go behind the counter and was told to open the till and the intruders made off with £100 from the till and £500 worth of tobacco products which were placed in a rucksack.

Booker was identified by another local shopkeeper who had seen him in his store earlier and provided police with CCTV footage.

When Booker was arrested three days later, he had a knife in a bum-bag.

Booker, 31, of Bakery Way, Colchester, admitted robbery and having a knife on February 20 this year and having a knife on February 23.

Gazette: Raid - a knife can be seen as the robber takes tobacco and cash and loads it into a rucksack Raid - a knife can be seen as the robber takes tobacco and cash and loads it into a rucksack (Image: St George's Stores)

The court heard he had more than 50 previous convictions including a conviction for robbery dating back to 2011.

Sentencing him, Judge Martyn Levett said the robbery must have been a terrifying experience for the shopkeeper who was working on his own at night.

He said shopkeepers like the victim worked hard to keep their shops open early in the morning to late at night and provided a valuable service to their community.

Gazette: Attack - St George's Store in Canterbury Road, ColchesterAttack - St George's Store in Canterbury Road, Colchester (Image: St George's Stores)

Simeon Wallis for Booker said the unidentified man had played a greater role in terrorising the shop assistant than his client.

He said Booker had been homeless at the time of the robbery and had been sofa-surfing.

Mr Wallis said his client had no previous convictions for knife offences and asked the court to accept he wasn’t a dangerous offender.