A 28-year-old masked Stourbridge man who terrorised shop staff during a frightening robbery spree has been slammed behind bars for nine years.

Daniel Breakwell – labelled “dangerous” by a judge – was with an accomplice when he carried out five terrifying raids in just six days in which they escaped with items valued at less than £1,000.

Breakwell, who was carrying an imitation firearm – believed to be real by his scared victims – was finally nabbed after a brave worker in Amblecote’s Tesco Express grabbed him in a bear hug and tossed him out of the premises.

Michael Lakin, who was working in the Platts Road shop, told Breakwell where to go in no uncertain terms and he fled from the scene with his co-raider who was acting as a look-out.

But as the pair, who were both wearing balaclavas and hoodies, ran off, they were spotted by Thomas Wren as he made his way to a nearby KFC and he took the registration number of their getaway car.

Judge Michael Challinor praised both Mr Lakin and Mr Wren for their pubic spirited actions and he awarded them both with £250 for their efforts in ending Breakwell's crime spree.

The judge said the offences were so serious only a substantial prison term was appropriate for Breakwell who, at the time, was on licence for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Breakwell, of Bedcote Place, pleaded guilty to four robberies, four charges of being in possession of an imitation firearm and another of burglary.

Sally Hancox, prosecuting, said Breakwell and his accomplice struck first at Swinford Pharmacy in Hagley Road and they made off with the till after throwing a stone through a plate glass window.

The shop was the only one closed for business when the pair pounced, but the till was found empty a short distance away and traces of blood were matched by DNA testing to Breakwell.

The following day, Miss Hancox told Wolverhampton Crown Court the robbers targeted the One Stop Store in Worcester Street and they got away with £515 after threatening two female members of staff.

One of the women was so frightened she froze in her tracks when Breakwell pointed the gun in her direction, and he then seized a quantity of cigarettes but left behind a black bin liner that carried his fingerprints.

Miss Hancox said the Tesco Express was the next on their hit list where Mr Lakin sprang into action after one of his co-workers was left in a state of “absolute terror”.

The robbers then went to the Co-op store in The Broadway, Norton, where £80 was taken and members of staff were again left “very scared and extremely upset”.

Graham Breakwell, defending, said Breakwell carried out the crimes because of his long standing addiction to heroin and crack cocaine.

He stressed that when Breakwell was not under the influence of the Class A drugs he was full of sympathy for his victims.

Miss Hancox told the judge the second man involved in the crimes had not been traced by investigating police officers, but inquiries were continuing and the hunt was still on.