A BUILDER has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for two “terrifying” robberies at two shops in the same week, using an imitation firearm.

Liam Newman, 31, of no fixed address, entered the Mr G Mini Markets off licence in Seadown Road, Sompting, and went straight to the till, ordering the female shop assistant to hand over the money.

He got away with £800 in cash and also stole around £160 worth of cigarettes from the store, before making his escape.

Prosecutor Nicholas Hall said: “He grabbed as much as he could get away with or carry away. He told the assistant to fill a bag with cigarettes.

“The shop had CCTV and this was the first lead the defence had. It showed quite a distinctive tattoo on one of his wrists.”

The tattoo showed his year of birth, 1985, which led to detectives highlighting Newman as a suspect, Mr Hall told the court.

His accomplice for the second robbery at Ladbrokes in Rowlands Road, Worthing, was Damien Gilbert, 24, of no fixed address.

Gilbert pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of possession of an imitation firearm on December 20 last year.

While Newman waited outside, Gilbert entered Ladbrokes, threatened the member of staff on duty and screamed at her “this is a ******* robbery”, before ordering the employee to put cash in a plastic bag he held.

Mr Hall said Newman was seen by witnesses encouraging Gilbert and saying “it’s going to be okay”.

The court heard that police never found a firearm from either robbery, resulting in the charges being for an imitation firearm.

During sentencing, judge Jeremy Gold QC, said: “This is terrifying for the people who are the subjects of these robberies. You have a bad record for offences which include robbery and violence.”

Newman was jailed for robbing the Mr G Mini Markets on August 13 last year and Ladbrokes betting shop in Rowlands Road, Worthing, five days later.

Newman appeared at Lewes Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for two counts of robbery and two counts of possession of an imitation firearm after pleading guilty to all charges on May 17.

Gilbert’s sentencing was adjourned until this morning at Lewes Crown Court.