An armed robber who threatened a woman with a knife in a "terrifying" raid on a village shop has been jailed.

Jack Reader, 20, was yesterday sentenced to more than four years in prison after stealing cash from the store in Chart Sutton, near Maidstone, on January 21.

Reader, of Terrace Road, Maidstone, carried out the robbery while the victim - a woman in her 60s - was working alone.

He entered the shop at 4.50pm and produced a knife described as "eight inches long".

He waved the weapon in front of the victim and demanded she open the till, eventually fleeing with about £100.

Reader was quickly identified as the prime suspect and an investigation revealed he had used a silver Mercedes as a getaway car.

He was arrested on February 13, when he was found wearing the same jacket and trousers as seen in images recovered from local CCTV. Tattoos on his left hand also matched, as did a distinctive mole below his ear.

Appearing before Maidstone Crown Court, Reader was charged with robbery and with possessing a knife in a public place.

He pleaded guilty, and was yesterday sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment for the robbery, as well as 18 months for possessing a knife in public, to run concurrently.

Det Con David Evans said: "Reader subjected his victim to a truly terrifying ordeal.

"She was no doubt left fearing for her life after he terrorised her with a large knife and forced her to open the till.

"Thankfully, we were able to promptly identify and arrest him, ensuring he could pose no further threat to people in the local community.

"The courts have passed a significant sentence and I hope at the very least that it will provide the victim with the reassurance that justice has now been served."