A JURY has rejected a Worcester robber's claim he was forced on pain of death to hold up a village store.

Sean Hunt, of Lowesmoor, feared he would end up "propping up a motorway bridge" unless he carried out the crime.

But the jury at Gloucester Crown Court convicted Hunt on a majority verdict of raiding the Abbey Garage at Toddington, near Cheltenham, in mid-October last year.

Mark Worsley, prosecuting, said 27-year-old Hunt had threatened the cashier with a knife before taking £450 from the till.

"As he turned away to leave, he said 'have a nice night'," added Mr Worsley.

But Lynne Matthews, defending Hunt, told the court her client was "under duress" because he believed his boss, 51-year-old Kenneth Trinder, would harm him and his family.

The court heard Mr Trinder assaulted Hunt the day after the robbery, leaving him with cuts to his head and face, requiring hospital treatment.

Miss Matthews described Mr Trinder - who started a household appliance repair business with Hunt after the two men met at a Worcester bail hostel - as a "Jekyll and Hyde character" who often beat Hunt and threatened he could make people "disappear".

Hunt told the court Mr Trinder had ordered him to find the money for a £3,000 loan prior to the robbery.

"I tried to make an excuse that it was busy in the garage shop," Hunt said.

"I went to the garage, but there were too many people in there.

"I bought food and went back to Mr Trinder. He said 'if you don't get the money you're going to get done'."

Hunt said Mr Trinder supplied him with the knife and urged him: "Go and do it".

After being told of Hunt's previous convictions, Judge Gabriel Hutton remanded him in custody and asked for pre-sentence reports.

He warned Hunt to expect a long jail term.