A RAIDER who threatened a shopkeeper with a knife during a robbery has been jailed.

John Oprey, of Muscliffe Road in Bournemouth, was snared after a woman working at One Stop in Castle Lane West recognised him as a regular customer during the frightening incident.

The 41-year-old was sentenced to three years and eight months behind bars at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday after admitting robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

The court heard that at around 10pm on Tuesday, January 5, Oprey entered the convenience store and approached a female member of staff to ask about a product.

As she attempted to help, Oprey pushed her and demanded the till to be opened.

The defendant then tried to open the till before the victim hit the panic button.

Oprey then brandished a knife and demanded that the woman open the till drawer again.

A second woman, who was also working in the store, opened a different till and Oprey grabbed the cash before leaving the shop.

The women recognised Oprey as a regular customer and he was arrested the following morning.

Police were called to the store at the junction with Broadway Lane just after 10pm, quickly launching a manhunt.

The NPAS helicopter was tasked to help track Oprey down.

Speaking to the Daily Echo the following day, a member of staff at the shop said employees had been left "shaken" by the event.

Detective Constable Michelle Lawrence, of Bournemouth CID said: “This was a frightening ordeal for the shop workers.

“I hope the sentence handed out by the courts sends out a very clear message to anyone involved in such offences that it simply will not be tolerated.”