A shop assistant is suffering nightmares and flashbacks after experiencing two terrifying armed robberies in a week.

Kylie George, 28, of Hove, was working in Ladbrokes in South Street, Portslade, when it was raided by a man who threatened her and waved a knife in her face.

Just days later two men armed with a knife entered another Ladbrokes shop after closing time and stole cash.

The first robbery happened on February 28.

Miss George was helping tidy the shop when the man entered at about 6.20pm.

She said: "I screamed the place down.

"He said, get back, get back. He had a Stanley knife and shoved it in my face.

"I didn't want him to take the money. He was trying to hit me with the knife. He took the money and went. It was horrible."

Miss George, who contacted The Argus as part of our Crime in the Community report, said she was keen to get back to work despite the horrific experience.

On March 2 a similar robbery happened while Miss George was working in Ladbrokes' Montefiore Road branch in Hove.

She said two men entered at about 6pm and asked her manager for cash.

"She said "no way". Then they showed her the knife and I said "just give it to them." They took the money and left.

"Afterwards I was all over the place. I was in a really bad state."

Miss George was so distressed after the second incident an ambulance was called to the shop.

She has visited the doctor and was advised to take a week off work.

She said: "I just want them caught. I feel frightened and angry and want them to know how terrifying it has been for me."

A £10,000 reward has been offered for information which leads to the arrest or conviction of the offenders.

A Ladbrokes spokesman said: "Fortunately incidents of this kind happen very rarely and the vast majority of Ladbrokes staff will never be involved in anything of this kind.

"Kylie's bravery on both occasions is a tribute to her dedication and that of her hard-working colleagues who are determined not to be beaten by these thugs.

"The safety of staff is our number one priority. In the light of the two recent incidents we will be undertaking a full security review throughout the Brighton and Hove area."

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said several hundred pounds was stolen in each of the robberies and police were looking at CCTV footage of the robberies.

The robbers are described as in their late teens or early twenties. They were wearing black hooded tops and black gloves with scarves over their faces. One had Lonsdale London written in red lettering on the front of his top.

Anyone with information can contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

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