ROBBER Adam Hart has been jailed for four years after committing a series of robberies to repay a loan shark.
The 26-year-old first struck at McColls in Blurton at 6.45pm on December 10.
Prosecutor Robert Price yesterday told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court Hart entered the shop wearing a balaclava and waving a hammer.
"He approached the counter shouting 'Open the till'," said Mr Price.
"He was very agitated and angry. He demanded a worker put �1 coins in his bag."
The court was told Hart made off with �289.99.
One shop worker said she felt "sickened" by the incident.
Hart's fingerprints were recovered at the shop.
The defendant struck again at 7.35pm on January 13.
Mr Price said Hart entered the BP Service Station in Blurton wearing a hooded coat.
"It was up and he was carrying a rucksack and holding a hammer. He held the hammer at head height and demanded 'Give me the money'.
"He demanded cigarettes. The worker threw a packet at him, which he kept. He said he was not going to hurt her."
Hart made off with �58.
At 8.55pm the next day he went into Bargain Booze in Blurton, again wearing a hooded jacket. He also had a black scarf covering his face and was wearing glasses. He held a hammer at shoulder height and had a bag with him.
"He shouted 'Give me the money'," said Mr Price.
The cashier handed over �200 and Hart made off.
And on January 16 he robbed the One Stop shop in Blurton.
He raised a claw hammer to head height and demanded money.
The terrified cashier struggled to open the till so Hart jumped over the counter and struck it with the hammer. He made off with �10.
Hart, of Campbell Road, Stoke, was arrested on January 18.
He admitted all four robberies, telling officers he had to repay a loan shark in relation to a drugs debt.
The defendant pleaded guilty to four charges of robbery.
Nick Ryles, mitigating, conceded the offences were serious.
He said the defendant comes from a responsible and law abiding family but he began taking heroin and then crack cocaine.
"He acted simply out of desperation," said Mr Ryles.
"He borrowed a substantial amount of money through a loan shark after developing a crack cocaine addiction. Threats started to come from the loan shark."
Mr Ryles added that Hart was genuinely remorseful.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Hart he came very close to being classed as a dangerous offender.
He added: "If ever there was a case which goes to show the dangers of becoming involved in drugs and establishing a drug habit and dependency, this is clearly one such case."
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