A desperate heroin addict pulled an imitation handgun on two women in the lift of a Liverpool city centre car park.
Eric Pike apologised to the mum and daughter but then cocked the fake gun and demanded their purses.
But despite threatening to shoot one of the women "in the eye" the daughter chased him out of the lift and made him flee the car park.
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Pike struck just after 1pm on June 9, following the two women into the lift at the Q-Park car park on Hanover Street.
Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court : "They paid for their ticket on the screen and they both walked towards the lift. They noticed the defendant leaning against the lift. He was hunched over, looking at the floor.
"The defendant followed them into the lift. The mother pressed the button... the lift doors closed, the lift started to move and very shortly afterwards the defendant produced a handgun."
Mr Hopkins said Pike told the women "sorry to do this girls" before: "Holding the gun, he pulled the back of the gun back as if he was cocking it."
The 50-year-old then demanded: "Give me your purses, money and phones."
The younger of the women suspected the gun was fake because it did not make a sound when he cocked it and, the court heard, she "pushed him against the corner of the lift".
When the doors opened he fell out and she chased him, despite him threatening: "I'm going to shoot you in the eye."
While Pike fled the car park, the mum pressed the emergency button on the lift.
The daughter later told police: "I think instinct and adrenaline kicked in but once I got back to the car I became teary and upset."
Harrowing victim personal statements detailed how both women, who were in their 50s and 30s, had been left terrified by the ordeal, which has led to flashbacks and anxiety.
The mum said: "I will never get over the fact I thought my daughter could get shot."
She added: "I feel the experience of this incident is going to have a long lasting impact on my life."
They also said the experience during the attempted robbery led to them cancelling a visit to see a relative in the following days. That loved one died soon after and both blame Pike for taking their final opportunity to see her away from them.
Pike, of Windsor Street in Orrell Park, was arrested days later but denied involvement, forcing his victims to go through an identity parade.
He later admitted attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.
Jamie Baxter, defending, said the incident "must have been a terrifying ordeal for the two ladies and nothing I say in this submission is meant to undermine that proposition".
He said Pike was under the influence of drugs at the time and that his actions were "reflective of the devastating impact" of illicit substances.
Mr Baxter added that his client had a traumatic upbringing and was "utterly ashamed of his actions".
Judge Garrett Byrne praised the "extraordinary" courage of the victims and noted an "established pattern of violent offending" from Pike, who had multiple previous convictions for offences including robbery.
He handed Pike a sentence of seven and a half years, with an extended licence period of two years.
This means he will have to serve at least two thirds of his jail term before he can be considered for release.
When he is released he will be the subject of licence conditions for whatever is left of the seven and a half years, plus a further two years.
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