A KNIFE-wielding robber who hid his face using a black plastic bin bag carried out a "terrifying" robbery at a Southampton convenience store.

Gary Samuel Moule entered Best One in Station Road, Sholing, carrying the blade which he used to threaten a lone female staff member.

The 33-year-old demanded money and tobacco from the woman before leaving the store.

But he came back moments later and again threatened the staff member, this time demanding the key to the safe – which the woman said she did not have.

Moule was later tracked for almost thirty minutes by one witness, who helped police arrest him near a bus stop.

Now Moule has been jailed for four years after pleading guilty to one count of robbery.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the lone female employ was stacking shelves at Best One at around 12.30pm on December 19 when she saw a hooded man enter the store.

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Prosecutor Jane Terry said: "She saw the defendant was carrying a knife, which appeared to be a small vegetable cutting blade.

"He already had the knife in his hand when she saw him.

"She said she panicked when she saw the knife but said she wasn't going to risk doing what he wanted as she didn't want to get hurt."

Ms Terry told the court that Moule, who was wearing a hood and covering his face with a plastic bin bag, demanded cash from the till and the employee subsequently gave him around £100.

He also demanded a pouch of Virginia tobacco, which the staff member handed over, before he demanded more and she handed over a total of four pouches.

Ms Terry said Moule returned soon after demanding the key to the shop's safe, but was rebuffed by the employee, who said she did not have it.

She said two witnesses later tracked Moule from the store, one of whom followed him for around 30 minutes and gave police a "running commentary" of his location.

Moule was arrested soon while waiting at a bus stop.

Mitigating, Berenice Mulvanny said Moule had begun abusing Class-A since the age of 22 and had hit "rock bottom" at the time of the offence.

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She said: "He has had issues with drug addiction, anxiety, depression and has been homeless.

"Effectively, he has hit rock bottom and he can only go up from here."

Ms Mulvanny said Moule had a job in the library in prison and was working with drug addiction support network Phoenix Futures.

Moule, of Drummond Court, Southampton, was jailed for four years.

Judge Christopher Parker QC said: "You were at a low point in your life and you decided to go and carry out a robbery at a convenience store.

"There was a lone woman in the store working and it must have been terrifying. It would have been frightening for anybody."

Judge Parker added: "Nobody wants you to go to prison and nobody wants to see you on drugs so use your time in prison well."