Shane Pidgeon terrified workers and customers when he burst into a the Costcutters store in Trench Road, Telford.

He had gambled away his benefits earlier that day before drinking a large amount of vodka and carrying out the robbery, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

Pidgeon shoved one customer to the ground during the raid, causing him a cut and bruising.

Judge Peter Barrie sentenced Pidgeon to three years for the robbery, six months to run concurrently for possession of the knife and 14 days custody to run concurrently for assaulting customer Ronan Bike.

The court heard shopkeeper Claire Meredith was working at the store on September 29 when Pidgeon ran in waving the knife and demanding money.

Mark Rees, prosecuting, said: "He grabbed Mr Bike and pushed him into a shop display and on to the floor.

"He then demanded Miss Meredith hand him money from the till. She handed over notes and he demanded more so she gave some coins too and he fled."

Mr Rees said £88 had been taken and Pidgeon, from Wedgewood Crescent, Ketley, was arrested a few moments after leaving the store by three passing officers.

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Mr Rees added: "He told officers he had collected his benefit money that morning, went to the bookies and lost it all on video roulette.

"He went to a friend's house, got the clothes he wore in the robbery, picked up a knife and decided to carry out the robbery after drinking a large quantity of vodka."

Mr Chris Grainger, for Pidgeon, said his client was extremely remorseful and wanted to apologise to Miss Meredith and Mr Bike.

He said he had lost his uncle to cancer recently and his mother had also been diagnosed with the same disease, causing him depression.

Sentencing Pidgeon, Judge Barrie said: "I have much sympathy for your situation but won't let it cloud my judgement because there are lots of people struggling who don't commit offences such as these.

"You brandished a fearsome knife and left Miss Meredith and Mr Bike terrified."