A MAN who robbed a second hand shop at knifepoint has been jailed for four and a half years.

Robert Burns carried out the robbery at Cash For Clothes in Kidderminster at about noon on December 10, 2012.

He was caught after police discovered a customer in the shop at the time was his girlfriend, picked up on discrepancies in her witness account, and established the pair had been in the shop together the previous week.

Burns, aged 31, of Farnham Road, Birmingham, denied robbery and possessing a knife in a public place but was found guilty after a trial and was jailed for 54 months at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, March 12.

Detective Constable Adrian Smith of West Mercia Police said: “Burns went into the shop with identity concealed by a hat and scarf and demanded money. The member of staff handed over a total of £523.

“He was caught after police discovered a customer in the shop during the robbery was actually his girlfriend. We picked up on discrepancies in her witness account, and established the pair had been in with shop together the previous week.

“This was a very distressing experience for the shop owner, who was left shaking and crying.

“Knife robberies are taken very seriously by the police and courts and the sentence imposed reflects that.”

Burns’ girlfriend was arrested on suspicion of robbery and attempting to pervert the course of justice but no further action was taken against her.