A drug addict who terrified shop staff in a £14,000 knifepoint robbery has been jailed for six years.

Wearing stockings over their heads, Darren Sheller and three others burst into the Co-op in Cheriton High Street, Folkestone, early one morning.

Baker Chris Woolnough was tied up with his trousers and belt and locked in a room with supervisor Linda Savage and cleaner Pauline Peers.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mrs Savage had opened up the shop at about 6am on July 18 last year and left the back door open for the cleaner.

"Before she arrived, four masked men entered the premises," said prosecutor Ben Temple.

"Each had their faces covered with stockings and were wearing gloves and brandishing long-handled kitchen knives."

They forced Mrs Savage to open safes and emptied the contents - including £10,000 cash - into plastic bags.

She later told police: "I screamed. One said: ‘Be quiet, love. I promise if you do what I say I won’t hurt you. It is only money. It’s not worth losing your life over.’"

As well as cash, postage stamps, gift vouchers, scratch cards and cigarettes were stolen.

Mr Temple said when Mrs Peers arrived, she was forced to the ground. When she told the raiders she had undergone heart surgery, one showed her some consideration.

The staff were locked in a bond room in the warehouse before the robbers fled.

DNA linked to Sheller, 29, was taken from a knife recovered from the scene. He at first denied any involvement but admitted his part in it when shown CCTV film of the raid.

Mr Temple said Sheller, of Broomfield Road, Folkestone, had nine previous convictions, including assault and criminal damage.

Adaku Oragwu, defending, said Sheller was the only one to be sentenced for the robbery, despite another man arrested being seen clearly on security camera stills.

Sheller, who worked for a drinks manufacturer, had a history of drug abuse and had taken ecstasy and diazepam, as well as alcohol before committing the offence.

"What he did that morning is really unforgivable," said Miss Oragwu. "He is deeply remorseful."