An armed robber from Telford who handed himself in to police because he felt so guilty has been jailed for three years.

Terence Eccleston held up a 21-year-old woman shop assistant at The Nix Service Station in Newport, with a fake gun, demanding cash.

He then fled with £140 in the hope of paying off some of the £10,000 debts he had run up since losing his job as a lorry driver.

Eccleston, 46, of North Road, Wellington, had admitted robbery and possessing an imitation firearm.

He appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court today for sentencing.

Jo Barker, prosecuting, said Eccleston went into the store, pulled a balaclava over his head and held what appeared to be a gun on the counter and demanded money. The terrified worker handed over the money and called the police as he fled the service station.

She added: “It was only after a couple of months that Eccleston, feeling so guilty about his actions, decided to call the police and invite th-em around to his home, wh- ere he gave them the balaclava and plastic gun and ad- mitted what he had done.”

Debra White, for Eccleston, said he could not live with the guilt of the robbery, committed in a moment of madness to try to ease debts built up since losing his job due to deteriorating sight.