A man who committed a "terrifying" knifepoint robbery at a Nisa store in Northfleet has been jailed for four years.

Marcus Sherriff, of Burch Road, jumped over the shop counter brandishing a weapon, threatened shop staff and demanded cash.

The 20-year-old stole almost £900 from the till drawer before fleeing, and left shop staff "petrified and fearing for their lives," according to police.

Sherriff pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and being in possession of a knife and at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, January 20, he was sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

The robbery took place at around 2:15pm on Saturday, November 9 2019, when Sherriff entered the Nisa store with his hood up and a scarf around his face.

He approached the tills and, with a knife in his hand, jumped over the counter to where a shop assistant was standing and demanded cash.

When the staff member backed away from him, Sherriff grabbed her arm and forced her to open the till.

Taking almost £900 with him, he jumped back over the counter and fled the store.

An investigation was launched, and Sherriff was identified using CCTV footage.

He was later arrested, and the knife was recovered from his home address.

The officer in charge of the case, DC Martin Taylor of North Kent CID said: "Sherriff committed a terrifying robbery leaving shop staff petrified and fearing for their lives.

"Thankfully we were quickly able to identify him, bring him to justice and put a stop to his criminal activity."