A knife-wielding robber who terrified a petrol station worker and threatened to slit her throat has been jailed for six years.
Joanne Metcalfe entered the St Giles Filling Station, in Gilesgate, Durham , shortly after 6am on August 24 this year and filled a shopping basket full of items.
As the cashier – a woman working alone - finished scanning the items through the till, Metcalfe brandished a knife in her face and told her she would slit her throat if she didn’t give her any money.
Fearing for her life, the frightened cashier opened the till and Metcalfe made off with a quantity of cash and the stolen goods.
She was arrested a few minutes later in a street behind the petrol station.
The 39-year-old, of Churchill Square, Gilesgate, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
She appeared at Durham Crown Court last week where she was jailed for six years.
PC Anna Pittam, of Durham City CID , said: “The victim was extremely brave to have gone through the process with us for what was a terrifying ordeal during which she genuinely feared for her life.
“Thankfully the uniformed officers from the response teams quickly identified the suspect and arrested her a few minutes after the incident.
“I hope Metcalfe’s sentence gives some reassurance to the victim and the wider public that her attacker is off the streets and behind bars.”
