A hooded teenager who tried to hold-up a Queensbury newsagents with an imitation handgun has been jailed for four years.

Anthony Berry, of Charles Street, Queensbury, was 18 when he went into Cottage News in Sandbeds and demanded cash from shopkeeper Sarbgit Bains.

Prosecutor Heather Weir told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that Berry had gone into the premises shortly 9pm last August.

Mrs Bains, who had been sitting in the corner of the shop, was alerted by her husband's shout and looked up to see Berry pointing the gun at her.

Miss Weir said Berry demanded cash, and although the shopkeeper thought the gun was plastic she was still extremely frightened.

As her husband appeared, Berry fled empty-handed and managed to escape despite being chased.

Berry, now 19, was arrested a few days after the incident, but he initially denied being involved. Last month however he pleaded guilty to charges of attempted robbery and possessing an imitation firearm.

He will have to serve at least half of the four-year term in a young offenders institution before becoming eligible for release.

Judge Linda Sutcliffe was told that Berry was a young man of previous good character who had a loving family to support him.

"He knows, because he has been told and is prepared for it, that the court will send him to custody," conceded Berry's barrister Jeremy Hill-Baker.

Judge Sutcliffe pointed out that the Court of Appeal had made it plain that those who worked in premises such as newsagents, small shops and off-licences are particularly at risk from robbers and must be protected.

Berry had submitted a hand-written letter to the judge and she accepted that his remorse for the offence was now genuine.