TWO men who robbed a garage cashier at knifepoint have each been jailed for five years.

While Istasharm Hussain went to the toilet at Rock Garage in Callow Hill, near Bewdley, accomplice Stephen Hagan posed as a customer.

Hussain then grabbed cashier Raymond Edwards and held a knife against his throat. Mr Edwards was marched to a storeroom where his wrists were taped behind his back, said Malcolm Parkes, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

The robbers escaped with cigarettes, alcohol and £198 from the till. But they were caught after crashing their getaway car into a tractor two miles from the garage.

Hussain, aged 21, and Hagan, 45, admitted robbery.

Judge Andrew Geddes said the courts had to protect vulnerable premises like garages with deterrent sentences.

He said Mr Edwards must have been terrified by his ordeal on Monday, September 24, last year.

Another customer, who came into the garage after the robbers had fled, heard Mr Edwards' cries for help and released him.

Mr Parkes said the defendants abandoned their Vauxhall Cavalier after the crash on Cleobury Road, Rock.

A passer-by flagged down a police car and Hagan was eventually traced through his number plate.

Hussain was arrested near the Hop Pole Stores, Bewdley, where the pair had gone to phone for a taxi.

His mouth was still bleeding from the accident.

He had a holdall containing the stolen goods and police found details in the bag relating to Hagan, who had left the scene in a cab. He was arrested at home later the same day.

He had a previous conviction for wounding but Hussain, of Terry Street, Dudley, had no previous convictions.

Anthony Potter, for Hagan, of Tiled House Lane, Pensnett, Brierley Hill, said he wanted to clear a debt.

He also had problems with a neighbour who was being prosecuted for assaulting him.

Hagan was a full-time carer for his sick wife. While he was in jail "every day of her life will be a great deal harder," added Mr Potter.

Gary Bell, for Hussain, said he had been an industrious student with a large number of educational qualifications.

He claimed Hagan had persuaded the much younger man to help him in the robbery.

Mr Bell added: "He is the first person ever in his family to get involved in crime. He only has himself to blame but is easily led."