A THUG who robbed a shop at knifepoint has been jailed for more than six years.

Police were called at 5:15pm on April 20 after Michael Oakley, 28, threatened staff at a convenience store in Station Parade, Eastbourne, with a knife and demanded money.

He ran away with the till from the shop, but dropped the knife at the scene of the crime.

A few days later, a resident in Upperton Gardens found a till and drawstring bag in their garden, as well as a balaclava, sock and glove in their compost bin.

These items were found to match those worn by the suspect during the robbery, as seen on CCTV footage.

The knife from the scene was seized, and forensics found a partial DNA profile for Michael Oakley, a care assistant of Seaside, Eastbourne, and he was later arrested and charged with robbery.

DC Jon Moore said: “Michael Oakley callously threatened the store owner with a knife in a planned and pre meditated robbery designed to instil maximum fear for the sole purpose of taking money from the store.

“The response from police officers and staff, along with members of the public, swiftly secured vital evidence which, despite his best efforts, identified Oakley and was significant in securing a guilty plea.

“We hope this sentence of 81 months shows that violence and threatening behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated in our communities.”

Oakley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 81 months in jail when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on September 17, 2021.

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