An "immature" man wielded a gun while attempting to rob a pizza shop so he could buy a new puppy after losing his dog.
Ryan Elliott Wood demanded cash at an Eston pizza shop in his midnight raid, Teesside Live reports.
The 23-year-old who had his full face covered and "only showing his eyes", pointed the " long barrelled black gun " at the Xpresso Pizza owner insisting "give me your money".
The takeaway owner was in "genuine fear" and thought he "was dead" following the terrifying ordeal on Eston Square, just after midnight on Thursday, April 29.
Wood, carried out the attempted robbery to buy a new puppy as he "didn't have the money".
The Eston man appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Friday for sentencing.
He previously pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Jenny Hague, prosecuting, told how it was around 12.10am on April 29 when Wood entered the pizza parlour.
The owner, along with a driver and another employee, were present in the takeaway at the time.
Wood, who was wearing a tracksuit and a mask "only showing his eyes", walked into Eston Square store and "tied up the door to keep it open".
He "approached the counter" and "put his left hand inside his jacket".
'I thought I was dead'.
The store owner described how he pulled out a "long barreled black gun" and believed it was a "proper gun".
"I thought I was dead," the frightened Xpresso Pizza owner said.
Ms Hague said Wood "pointed the gun" and said "give me your money".
The owner fled to the rear of the takeaway and asked his collegue to call the police.
However, the panicked employee couldn't remember his password to get into his phone and Wood fled the scene.
He was seen heading into Normanby on a pedal cycle.
Council CCTV covering Eston Square noticed a male of the same description.
Cleveland Police officers attended and arrested Wood who was wearing the same clothes.
Ms Hague added in interview, Wood said: "It was only a pellet gun."
The Middlesbrough court heard how the weapon was described as a "black long-barrelled gun" with an expert ruling it as an "air pistol".
The incident was recorded on the pizza shop's CCTV showing the owner's reaction as Wood stood in the middle of the takeaway.
A victim impact statement was read aloud to the court with the owner stating the incident has affected his "mental and psychological" health.
"I believed the gun was real," he said.
"I keep picturing what could have happened."
The owner said he could have been in "serious harm" and now struggles when customers come into the store with their faces covered.
Ms Hague told how Wood has two convictions for three offences dating back to 2018.
John Nixon, mitigating, described Wood as an "immature young man" as his mother sat in the public gallery.
He outlined that the defendant had a difficult month in the lead up to the attempted robbery.
Mr Nixon said "the straw that broke the camel's back" was the death of Wood's dog "which meant a lot to him".
The court also heard how Wood has "taken tablets" that "contributed to his downfall".
'Highly vulnerable shops need public protection'
Judge Jonathan Carroll said he believed the owner was in "genuine fear" during the "terrifying" attempted robbery.
"As soon as he saw it [the gun] he thought he was dead," he added.
Before sentencing the judge said: "You had planned this robbery, you went there on a bike, you got a mask to hide your face and you had taken the gun with you.
"You tied the door open so you could get away and you had a reason.
"You wanted the money to purchase a new puppy to replace a dog that had recently died."
Wood 'depended heavily on the dog for emotional support' and had an opportunity to buy a new puppy "but didn't have the money to buy the dog" as he "lived on benefits".
He added that "highly vulnerable" shops which open late at night need "public protection".
Wood was jailed for two years and eight months for the attempted robbery and possession of a firearm.
A restraining order was also granted against the victim and Wood will have to pay a victim surcharge.
Judge Carroll told how Wood is a "young man with significant challenges and difficulties" who has learning difficulties, is autistic and has ADHD.
The court heard how he was "cared for his his mum on a daily basis" and had recently moved out for his "first attempt with independent living".
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