A ROBBER who threatened shop staff with a 10-inch blade while high on drug Spice has been jailed.

Andrew Haughian told police he believed he had dreamed the robbery, which took place shortly after 7.30am on May 15 this year.

Sandra Horlock was working at the Central Convenience Store in Ashley Road when the defendant, who was wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled up, put his head around the door.

He then stood outside a bookmakers nearby smoking a cigarette before returning to the shop.

Prosecuting the case at Bournemouth Crown Court, Rufus Taylor said: "The victim recognised [Haughian] as a regular customer.

"He went straight to the tills and lent over [them].

"He was holding a large kitchen knife in his left hand."

Haughian, of Ashley Road, pointed the weapon at Ms Horlock before saying three times: "Give me the ******* money."

"Ms Horlock was petrified and pressed the bell under the counter to seek help," Mr Taylor said.

"The defendant repeated his threat, 'Give me money or I will stab you.'"

The victim's colleague Victoria Ross then came to help and said to Haughian: "Please, don't."

The defendant, 44, replied: "If you don't open the till, I will stab you as well."

He made off with around £80.

Haughian, who "accepts that he will always be a heroin addict", was also linked to an alleged robbery the following day at Highland Service Station in Ashley Road.

However, he will not be charged with an offence in connection with the incident.

He robbed an elderly woman in 2001 and was sentenced to 13 months in prison.

Mitigating, Charles Cochand said Haughian had studied for a degree in fine art between 2005 and 2008 but had ended up homeless in 2015 when his marriage failed.

"The discovery of Spice in his premises was an unexpected event that derailed him," the barrister said.

"He thought it would help him to sleep but it had disastrous consequences."

Judge Brian Forster told the defendant, who wore a rosary when he appeared in the dock, that he had committed a "terrifying" robbery.

"You say you had taken drugs and this was almost a dream to you but, for the people in the shop, it was in every sense reality. They are left to live with the trauma."

Haughian, who admitted robbery and possession of a bladed article at a previous hearing, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Judge Forster commended Ms Horlock and Ms Ross for their bravery.