A ROBBER who targeted small Hampshire shops – bidding terrified staff festive greetings as he made off with cash and goods – has had his jail term doubled by a top judge.

Damien Jackson, of Hinkler Road, Southampton, committed a rash of offences, targeting Co-op and One Stop shops across the county during the festive season in 2007 and following new year.

Jackson, 22, pleaded guilty to four robberies, two attempted robberies and two counts of taking a motor vehicle without consent and was sentenced to 18 months in jail last October at Oxford Crown Court.

However, his sentence was deemed to be “unduly lenient” by the nation’s top law officer, the Attorney-General Baroness Scotland QC, who referred it to London’s Criminal Appeal Court for review.

At the appeal hearing Lord Justice Latham gave Jackson three and a half years – more than twice his original sentence.

Jackson carried out the raids with his accomplice Daniel Valentine, 28, of Oxford, across Hampshire Oxfordshire, Buckingham-shire, and Surrey.

Valentine pleaded guilty to six robberies, one attempted robbery and taking a motor vehicle without authority and was originally jailed for three years.

However, the appeal court doubled his sentence to six years.

During one of the raids on January 7 last year the One Stop Shop, in Hedge End was targeted, and £1,100 taken, with staff being wished “Merry Christmas” by the departing crooks.

Co-op A few days later on January 11 the Co-op in Midanbury, Southampton, was robbed and £340 taken and later the same night the raiders struck again at the Co-op, in Woodhouse Road, Southamp-ton, taking £760 worth of cigarettes.

No weapons were used in any of the raids.

Lord Justice Latham said: “Young men like this can inspire sufficient fear without the need for weapons to allow them to achieve their objectives. The court needs to protect vulnerable shops such as these.”