A man has been jailed after threatening Tesco staff at knifepoint and robbing nearly £200 in cash.

Alfie Reedman walked into a Tesco Express store and demanded cash from the till while threatening staff with a knife.

He then tried to steal cash from two other stores a day later but was arrested after leaving with nothing.

Police officers called the result “brilliant and totally deserved”.

The Argus: Tesco Express in Goring WayTesco Express in Goring Way (Image: Google Maps)

Reedman, 20, walked into the Tesco Express in Goring Way, Goring, on Saturday, October 21 just before 8am and demanded money from the till.

He made off with around £180.

A day later he demanded cash from The Welcome Store in Half Moon Lane, Salvington, and the Salvington Food Centre in Worthing.

After making off with nothing he was arrested by officers in Franklin Road.

Reedman, of Westergate Close, Ferring, pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery and two charges of attempted robbery when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court in November.

The Argus: Alfie ReedmanAlfie Reedman (Image: Sussex Police)

At a hearing in Lewes Crown Court in January Reedman was sentenced to 30 months in prison and handed a five-year restraining order from the three stores he robbed or tried to rob.

Sussex Police DI Gary Jacobs said: “These incidents caused huge amounts of distress to shop workers and it is not something anyone should have to experience when going to work, and we will make sure we continue to firmly tackle business crime across the force.

“This result is brilliant and is totally deserved. It will bring peace of mind to those who work at the stores he targeted and hopefully his time in the Young Offenders Institution will help Reedman rehabilitate.”