The victim of a knifepoint robbery in Ashford has been so traumatised by the frightening incident he has quit his job.

Thug Lee Sullivan, 30, had gone into the One Stop shop in Court Wurtin, Beaver Lane armed with a Stanley Knife.

After frightening staff, he threw a number of Curly Wurlys at assistant Tom Calnan and ordered him to scan them so the till would open.

Then the hooded robber snatched up to £300 and fled the scene, thinking he had got away with the robbery.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard the dopey raider dumped the balaclava and knife with his DNA all over the items nearby and they were found and recognised the following day in May last year.

Even then, Sullivan tried to explain his DNA on the balaclava by claiming he used it in a sex game.

Now, after admitting robbery and possessing a knife in public, he has been jailed for nine years.

He had failed to show up for a hearing last year and an arrest warrant was issued and he was finally nabbed for shoplifting.

Judge James O’Mahony told him it was “remarkable” he had been granted bail by magistrates at the earlier hearing “because you should not have been”.

He had heard how Mr Calnan and his colleague, Sally-Ann Perkins, who had been the victim of an earlier attack, had been working in the shop when Sullivan arrived shouting: “I will only say this once...and “Don’t f*** me about.”

The incident was caught on CCTV but Sullivan's face was hidden by the balaclava... but fortunately he had discarded the items where they were discovered the following day.

The judge heard how Mr Calnan was so traumatised by the incident he quit his job.

Detective Inspector Cara Ferguson, a senior investigating officer for this case, said: "This was a brazen and malevolent robbery carried out by a man who has shown himself to be a clear threat to society.

"He subjected to the victim to a terrifying ordeal and then repeatedly denied the offence, despite the conclusive evidence against him.

"Ashford is safer with Sullivan in custody, and I hope this sentence provides closure for the victim."