One of four masked robbers who threatened a terrified a shop assistant with a knife has been jailed for five years.

Under the extended sentence, Danny Martin, who glassed a man in a separate incident, will be on licence for a further two years after his release.

A judge told the 25-year-old father he had his good points and he did not want to crush his hope of a fresh chapter in future.

Deciding against imposing and indefinite sentence for public protection, Judge Andrew Patience QC added: “There is your chance. Look after your child and have a good life and not offend again.”

Martin, of Sydney Road, Chatham, admitted robbery and unlawful wounding.
Maidstone Crown Court heard he had only been out of prison 38 days when he raided the shop.

Trevor Wright, prosecuting, said Balendrajah Nimalarajan was working in the Mini Mart in Barnsole Road, Gillingham, during the evening of September 28 last year.

He looked around to see a man in a bright coloured mask with only his eyes and lips showing.

Mr Nimalarajan reached for a golf club he kept behind the counter, but the robber told him not to be stupid or he would be “chopped”.

Three more masked men entered the story. Mr Nimalarajan reached for the panic button but it did not work.

The robbers grabbed about £3,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco, £1,400 from the till and £200 from a cash machine, before escaping in a BMW car.

Mr Wright said £40 and packets of cigarettes were dropped. They were recovered along with a shirt sleeve which was used as a mask.

Saliva found on the sleeve matched Martin’s DNA and he was arrested. Three others were not prosecuted.

On October 13, he was in the gardens of a pub when an argument broke out and he lashed out at Alan Golightly, glassing him in the face.

The prosecutor said Martin’s previous convictions included dishonesty, burglary, criminal damage and possessing cannabis.

His last sentence was three years for burglary and he was recalled to prison to serve the remaining licence period, which expires in October.