A MASKED Brierley Hill man who took part in a terrifying knifepoint robbery at a bookmakers has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Luke Wroe was “ringleader” of the attack on William Hill’s in Brettell Lane, Amblecote, in which he and an accomplice got away with £479 and which left a lone female shop assistant petrified.

Wroe, who has four previous robberies on his criminal record together with a string of other offences, acted as a lookout as his accomplice burst into the shop.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the two men, brandishing knives, left the lone shop assistant in a state of shock after demanding money.

Recorder Michael Tregilgas-Davey told Wroe: “She was clearly terrified by what happened. She had to take two weeks off work and take medication because of what you did “It is clear what you did has had a significant effect on her life and this shop was targeted because you were hoping to get away with a much larger sum of money."

The court heard Wroe was arrested a short time after the incident after “information” was received by police identifying him as one of the robbers.

David Lees, prosecuting, said when police officers searched Wroe’s home they recovered the knife together with a small amount of cannabis and amphetamines.

When questioned - Wroe, of Fisher Street, Hawbush, said he carried out the robbery because he had no benefits and was in desperate need of money.

He admitted robbery, possessing the two controlled drugs and the knife and the Recorder told him only a substantial jail term was appropriate for the crimes - and he added: "

“It is quite clear that when times are hard you turn to committing robberies.”

Richard Vardon, defending, said it was accepted it was “truly a frightening experience” for the woman working in the bookmakers but he stressed no violence had been used and he said Wroe was full of remorse and had been extremely co-operative after his arrest.