A 24-year-old man who threatened staff at a Stevenage computer shop claiming he had a gun has been jailed for more than 2½ years.
24-year-old Syed Abbas of no fixed address was arrested on January 6 after walking into the Q-Tek Systems shop in the Old Town on December 22, demanding cash and threatening the manager, putting his hands in his pockets and claiming he had a gun.
After being called by a concerned member of staff the manager bravely chased Abbas out of the shop but was punched in the face.
Abbas had also tried to clamber over the shop counter but didn’t manage to steal anything.
The incident was captured in CCTV footage and Abbas pleaded guilty to the robbery and assault at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday.
He also admitted stealing a bottle of brandy from Asda in Stevenage on December 15 after threatening a member of staff who told him alcohol could not be sold at the time.
Abbas was sentenced to 32 months in jail and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.
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