NABBED

Andrew Pepper and Jason Williams were jailed for a total of ten years after targeting the premises in Queensway.

It was occupied by the manager and his girlfriend Heidi Pitt, who had a large kitchen knife held to her throat by Williams.

The drama was captured on CCTV and Pepper was recognised by Echo readers when pictures were published in the paper.

Ms Pitt was ordered to hand over the contents of the till and the pair made off with £305 during the raid, running to nearby Orchard Lane where they disposed of the weapon.

Williams, 23, of Outer Circle, Shirley Warren, was jailed for six years when he appeared at the city crown court and admitted robbing the Movie Video shop.

Pepper, 29, of Rownhams Road, Maybush, who acted as a look out during the raid, has been given four years. He had admitted the offence at an earlier hearing when sentence was adjourned.

Judge Christopher Leigh QC told him: "This was committed late at night against vulnerable shopkeepers staying open to serve the community and threats were made in the most terrifying way."

Though his role was not as serious as Williams', he knew his accomplice had the knife and might have used force if it had been necessary.

In mitigation, Charles Thomas said Pepper accepted prison was inevitable. He had finally gained an insight into his drug problem and since he had been on remand, he had been tested clean.

"They went to the front of the shop together and he stayed by the door but when Williams committed the worst excesses of the robbery, he went outside."

The court heard that Pepper had made 29 previous court appearances for 116 offences, mostly for theft and car-related, and this was his first conviction for robbery.

Pepper had eight other offences considered, including a burglary involving almost £8,000 worth of property.

Det Con Emma Penson, who led the investigation, said: "This was a very violent robbery and we are grateful to readers of the Daily Echo who helped to identify the offenders."