Jail for man who robbed shop worker at knifepoint

A masked man who robbed a Peterborough convenience store at knifepoint has been jailed for six years.

Wayne Sharman, 38, brandished the knife at a woman working in Donaldson News, Donaldson Drive, Gunthorpe, at about 09:40 GMT on 4 January.

He forced her to open the till and helped himself to £150 in cash and three packets of menthol cigarettes, Cambridge Crown Court, sitting in Peterborough, heard.

Sharman, of Elter Walk, Gunthorpe, pleaded guilty to robbery and being in possession of a knife in a public place.

Officers reviewing CCTV of the incident realised he had dropped his balaclava in the street.

They were able to link it to Sharman using DNA analysis, Cambridgeshire Police said.

He was arrested at his home on 22 January.

Det Con George Corney said: "This was an incredibly frightening experience for the victim, who was simply carrying out her job when she was threatened at knifepoint, putting her in a considerable amount of fear.

"Understandably, the seriousness of this crime caused concern within the community, but I hope this sentence and the action taken by [us] goes some way to reassuring local people."

Sharman was sentenced to six years in prison for the robbery and 18 months in prison for being in possession of a knife in a public place, to run concurrently.

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