A HOMELESS man who left two women terrified after robbing them at knifepoint has been jailed for eight years.

William Smith, who targeted lone female employees in two separate raids, admitted two robberies and two dwelling burglaries when he appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court.

The court heard that Smith, 37, smashed his way into two Bournemouth homes to steal thousands of pounds worth of property.

Shortly after 7.25pm on Monday October 23 Smith entered Supermarket Romania in Christchurch Road and walked to the fridge area. As a female shop worker was dealing with another customer, Smith appeared behind the counter next to her and placed a can of drink on the counter while holding a three to four inch knife in his left hand.

The victim screamed and Smith told her to “shut up”, before he reached across to the open till and stole cash from the drawer.

Smith left the store, got onto a bicycle and rode away. Officers attended and identified Smith from the CCTV footage.

The second robbery incident happened on Sunday October 29 when Smith entered Flowers on Charminster Road and asked for change for a £5 note. He was handed change and left but returned five minutes later asking for the note back. As the female shop worker handed the money over, Smith held a six-inch bladed kitchen knife in a hammer-type grip toward her.

Smith stole a quantity of cash from the till and apologised to his terrified victim before running away from the scene.

On Tuesday September 26 Smith smashed a window to steal items including a silver bracelet, camera and multiple lenses, projector, bank cards, an ornamental sword and a silver cutlery set in Boscombe Overcliff Drive.

Smith smashed a ground floor window of an address in Gillett Road between October 6 and 8. A laptop, cash, watch, running shoes and a coat was stolen.