A man who held up a post office with a sawn-off shotgun was today starting a seven-year jail term.

Hove Crown Court heard yesterday how Keith Chetwynd, 28, of Bates Road, Brighton, subjected elderly staff and customers to a terrifying ordeal.

He stormed the post office in his home street just before noon on January 26 wearing a balaclava and a pair of black gloves he had bought that morning.

He pushed an elderly customer aside before ordering the cashier to fill a black binliner with £20 notes.

Chetwynd fled with £3,500 but later a red Volkswagen Golf he had been driving was found abandoned.

He was arrested that afternoon.

In the car police found the sawn-off shotgun with its hammer in the cocked position but with the pins removed, preventing it from being fired.

The car was registered in the name of Chetwynd's friend Wayne Dicken, 21, of Downsview, Bury, near Pulborough.

Dicken gave Chetwynd the use of the car to enable him to continue working for a window firm.

Dicken, who denied being involved in the robbery, said Chetwynd owed him £6,000 for a Renault car and also a motorbike, which he was paying back in instalments.

A bundle of cash totalling £3,000 was found at Dicken's home along with a large silver-framed hacksaw which forensic tests linked with the cutting of the shotgun's barrels.

Dicken denied knowing the cash came from an armed robbery but when quizzed by police said he had "put two and two together" that it was come by through illicit means.

Charges of dishonest handling against Dicken have been postponed until September 26 for pre-sentence reports.

Chetwynd, who admitted robbery, remained passive as Judge Guy Anthony told him he had terrified staff and customers.

Sentencing, Judge Anthony said: "In putting the owner and customers in fear of their lives you and your counsel realise only a custodial sentence is required."

He ordered parole not be considered until Chetwynd has served at least half his sentence.