A MAN with a “£200-a-day ketamine habit” has been jailed for a knifepoint robbery of a newsagent.

Jonathon Flint left staff and customers terrified as he burst into the McColl’s shop in Savile Way, Grove, and demanded cash at 7.30pm on February 21.

The 22-year-old offender, who had 18 convictions for 35 previous offences, was jailed for 30 months by Oxford Crown Court on Monday after earlier admitting robbery and having a knife.

Claire Tucker, prosecuting, said supervisor Marian Tame was at the till and four shoppers, including two children, were in the store.

She said: “Suddenly Mr Flint came crashing through the doors shouting ‘give me the ****ing money’ several times. He went round the side of the till screaming at the top of his voice ‘get the ****ing till open’.”

Miss Tucker said he produced a kitchen knife with a six-inch blade and held it close to Miss Tame’s stomach.

She said: “She was terrified he was going to stab her.

“The knife was about three inches away from her. She was so scared, she forgot how to open the till.”

Flint, of Collett Way, Grove, escaped with an estimated £200. None of it was recovered.

Although the robber had a scarf over his mouth and wore a woolly hat, the witnesses recognised him as the brother of a regular customer and informed police, Miss Tucker said.

When Flint’s brother was contacted by officers, he found the defendant slumped against a tree with white powder around his nose. Flint told him: “I’ve done something silly, I need to hand myself in.”

Sumita Mahtab-Shaikh, defending, said: “Mr Flint was under the influence of drugs and needed to repay a drug debt.

“He was in fear for his own safety and for the safety of his mother.”

She added: “He has had a drug addiction for the last ten years, since he was about 12 or so. He has used crack cocaine, but his main addiction is ketamine, a daily habit of £200 or so.”

The drug is used as an anaesthetic for animals and humans. Legally-produced ketamine comes in liquid form, which is usually injected. Illegal powder or tablets are class-C drugs.

Judge Anthony King said: “This was a planned robbery where you produced a knife and held it so close to the woman that she was absolutely terrified and still suffers from the consequences.

“Those who dabble in drugs find that there are consequences and this is the consequence in your case, and it’s no good saying ‘sorry, I didn’t mean it’.”