A hooded thug held a cashier by the throat and robbed her petrol station in an attempt to settle a drug debt.
Jake Thomas stole over £200 from the business then fled in the late-night raid.
However, another employee at Applegreen petrol station in St Asaph, Wales, looked at CCTV footage the following day, recognised him and reported him to the police.
North Wales Live reports that a judge at Mold Crown Court told him that he had inflicted psychological harm on his victim, Linda Evans, who was a "vulnerable" target.
Prosecutor Paulinus Barnes stated that the robbery occurred at 10.45pm on October 15, 2021, as Mrs Evans was cashing up.
Thomas came in wearing a black hooded jumper, shorts and cap pulled down over his face. The cashier was behind the counter and didn't know he was there.
The prosecutor said Thomas "charged at her from behind, took her by the throat and threw her to the floor".
Then he produced an empty glass bottle, which he held with one hand, and with the other he took £215 cash from the till.
The court heard he pushed the bottle in her face and made sure she stayed down, then fled. Mrs Evans was left shaken and with sore arms and shoulders.
The following day another employee watched the CCTV footage and recognised him. Police were told and officers arrested Thomas.
The defendant told police he had done it because he was in debt and his family had been threatened. There had been threats that they would be "kidnapped or hurt".
After the raid, the prosecutor said Thomas went to his home in St Asaph and repaid some money to a man. But the man then forced him to visit other relatives asking for more cash, eventually escaping with £600.
In a victim statement, Mrs Evans said she had been scared to go to work after her ordeal. As she parked up for her next shift and walked across the forecourt she found herself "shaking", the court heard.
She closes the toilets at about 9pm to prevent the chance of anyone coming close to the back of her counter, and has lost her confidence and feels Thomas has taken her independence, the court heard.
Simon Rogers, defending, said his client, of High Street, St Asaph, had had a drug debt.
He feels ashamed and has empathy towards his victim. He couldn't watch the CCTV footage of the crime when police showed it to him.
The court also heard he has "learning difficulties and severe epilepsy".
And while on remand a cellmate slashed his own face and arms which caused him a "great deal of distress".
The judge, His Honour Judge Timothy Petts, said he had caused Mrs Evans physical and psychological harm.
He added: "Shops such as petrol stations that are open late at night provide a valuable service to society and those attempting to take advantage of their perceived vulnerability have to be punished accordingly."
He jailed Thomas for two years and eight months for robbery. He also gave Thomas a restraining order preventing him from entering the Applegreen petrol station for 10 years.
Following the sentencing, Denbighshire Rural Area Inspector Andy Kirkham said: "This was a crime which will have caused the victim considerable distress, and I welcome today's sentence.
"Thankfully, offences like this are rare in our locality, but as in this case, we will act swiftly to protect and reassure our communities.
"We will continue to strive to make north Wales the safest place in the UK."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
