Jailed: Oswestry robber pointed gun at terrified shop worker

Jamie Watkiss, from Owestry, put on black clothing and a balaclava before entering the family-run business.

He then wielded an imitation firearm, which was actually a low-powered BB gun, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

A woman was behind the till at The Corner Shop in Morda, near Oswestry, when 29-year-old Watkiss walked in on November 29, 2014.

Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said he pointed the gun at her and said: "I'm not going to shoot you. Just give me the money."

The shop assistant screamed and her father, who runs the shop, pulled her back and shut a door separating the shop from a private residence.

Miss Powis said the assistant ended up collapsing and crawled to the garden for sanctuary.

Watkiss, of Llys Road, Oswestry, stole a till, a screen, a scanner and two charity boxes before making off in a car.

The court heard that police arrived at the shop and Watkiss was later arrested at his home.

Miss Powis said: "He made full and frank admissions to being the man who entered the shop and committed the robbery."

Watkiss, pleaded guilty to robbery and being in possession of an imitation firearm at a previous hearing.

Mrs Debra White, representing Watkiss, said he had been in custody since December 2014 but had been using his time constructively, dealing with alcohol and drug misuse and gaining qualifications.

Mrs White added: "When the till was stolen there were charity boxes attached to the till.

"It's something which he didn't intentionally take."

Judge Jim Tindal said the shop assistant had been left "traumatised" by the incident.

He said Watkiss had been in and out of trouble for most of his adult life and at the time of the robbery was the subject of a community order.

Judge Tindal told him: "Ultimately, you went into that shop with a balaclava on, carrying what would have looked to that girl behind the till, a real gun.

"You took the till including the charity boxes and made your escape in the car."

However, he acknowledged that Watkiss had reassured the female shopkeeper that he was not going to use the gun.

Judge Tindal jailed him for three years for the robbery and handed him a 12-month prison sentence, to run concurrently, for the firearm offence.

Judge Tindal also made an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the BB gun.

Angela Colohan, 31, of Hammonds Place, Gobowen, stood trial earlier this year accused of the same charges as Watkiss.

Ms Colohan was found not guilty on both counts.