Masked robber jailed for newsagent raid

A MASKED robber who fled on his bicycle after holding up a shop has been jailed for almost four years.

Steven Matthews threatened a female assistant at knifepoint during the raid at the RS McColl newsagents in Pennywell Road on January 23 last year. Matthews forced the woman to open the safe before pedalling off with 543.

The 32-year-old was later arrested after being identified from the shop's CCTV.

Judge Lord Kinclaven jailed Matthews, of Piersfield Terrace, for three years and nine months.

The High Court in Glasgow was told Matthews turned to heroin after his roofing business hit problems.

He ran up a debt to local dealers that led him to rob for cash.