A man who threatened shop staff with a knife while attempting to steal alcohol from a Tesco Express in Brighton has been jailed for four years.
Daniel Bowler, 38, carried out the robbery at the convenience store in Jubilee Street on 14 March, where he threatened security staff with a knife after filling a basket with alcohol.
Police arrived at the scene within five minutes and found staff and customers had secured themselves inside the store after Bowler was ejected from the premises.
Inspection of closed circuit television revealed Bowler loading a basket with alcohol.
It was after this that he threatened security staff with a knife as they confronted him.
Police said that quick thinking by security staff saw Bowler thrown out of the shop while recovering as many bottles of alcohol as possible before locking the doors to the store.
Following investigation, officers identified Bowler and arrested him a week later on suspicion of robbery.
He was charged the next day with robbery and possession of a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place, and the following morning (23 March) appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court where he was remanded into custody.
This week Bowler, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to both offences at Lewes Crown Court and was jailed for four years and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.
Detective Police Constable Marlena Duleba-Dowsett, the officer in charge of the case, said: “I am pleased to see this offender brought to justice. We will not tolerate theft or violence in Sussex.
“Our priority is to protect our communities and businesses, and we will remain relentless in our pursuit to catch perpetrators of these crimes.”