A MASKED teenager who committed a "terrifying" knifepoint robbery at a Bradford newsagents has been locked up for three and a half years in a young offender institution.

Zeeshan Akhtar, of Brumford Road, East Bowling, burst into Carrbottom Convenience Store in Wibsey and grabbed a 67-year-old shop worker, threatening him with a 12-inch blade.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Akhtar, 19, had committed the offence while already on bail for another robbery, having also pleaded guilty to threatening a former friend and stealing his car.

Prosecutor John Bull told the court that at about 1.40pm on August 27 this year, Akhtar had entered the newsagent's shop and demanded cash from the part-time employee.

He threatened to stab the man with what his victim thought was a large pair of shears or scissors.

After a prolonged scuffle with the man, in which Akhtar made repeated demands for money, he left the shop with a box of cash and coins, said to have contained between £90 and £100, which had put on the counter.

Mr Bull said Akhtar was arrested a short time later in Acre Lane, Wibsey, with £83 recovered from his pockets and other cash found nearby.

Two knives, which Akhtar was said to have held together during the robbery, and some items of clothing, including a pair of black tights apparently used to cover his face, were also recovered by police.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the attack, which Mr Bull said had left the cashier "intimidated and in shock".

In mitigation, Austin Newman said Akhtar, who was 18 at the time of both offences, had "gone off the rails very seriously in a short period of time".

He said the teenager committed the offences during a "serious and heavy drug addiction", looking for cash to repay debts.

During the first robbery, which took place on May 19, Akhtar was said to have grabbed a former acquaintance and forced him to hand over his car keys outside his girlfriend's house in Carrbottom Road.

He then made off with a Volkswagen Golf, although the vehicle was later recovered.

Judge Peter Benson said Akhtar had used force and the "fear of assault" when stealing the car, but branded the robbery on the convenience store as "by far and away, much more serious".

"It is alarming to view the CCTV footage," he said.

"You shot into the store, probably armed with two knives, grabbed a man, and threatened to stab him.

"It was a terrifying spectacle.

"You were targeting a vulnerable victim, who was in an unprotected situation providing a public service.

"You exploited that vulnerability to fund your drug-taking habit."

Alongside his three and a half year sentence, Akhtar was also ordered to pay a £120 community surcharge.

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