A SERIAL robber who armed himself with a large knife and threatened a shop assistant has been jailed for five years.
Scott Moody, 27, disguised his face with a scarf and armed himself with the knife to go into Quix News in Holderness Road, east Hull.
Hull Crown Court heard he threatened the terrified shop assistant before demanding cash from the till and loading cigarettes into a plastic bag.
Moody, of Astoria Crescent, east Hull, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing the knife.
Detective Inspector Nicki Miller said: "He is clearly a dangerous man.
"This was a premeditated vicious attack in which he targeted and terrorised a lone female.
"It was a horrific attack, which she has been left traumatised by."
Moody sent a woman accomplice into the shop on two occasions before he entered with the knife.
Recorder Michael Smith said: "Shops of that kind provide a valuable service to the community. Unfortunately, they tend to be vulnerable because they tend to be managed by one or two staff."
"You must have terrified that lady. She opened the till and you helped yourself to a quantity of cash and cigarettes. She was left in fear."
Det Insp Miller said police welcome the five-year jail sentence.
"It reflects the severity and seriousness of the offence and we hope the victim can take some comfort from the fact the offender has been brought to justice.
"We take offences of robbery very seriously and treat them as a priority. A lot of police work went into this investigation."
Moody was also charged with two other robberies, but the charges were withdrawn.
Prosecutor Mark Kendall said: "The offence is aggravated by the use of a disguise, the use of an accomplice, the vulnerability of the complainant and the use of the very large knife to threaten her."
The robbery was carried out on October 29 at 5pm.
Moody also admitted targeting five shops in September and October last year.
In 2004, he was jailed for a robbery after he and three others raided a shop, threatened the employee and stole wine, beer and cigarettes.
He was also jailed for three years in 2006 for robbing a shop, where he handed the assistant a bag and ordered her to fill it with cigarettes while an accomplice pointed CS gas at her face before they made off with the cash register.
The following year, he was convicted of another robbery, in which he snatched money from a till.
