A SHOP worker left shaking with terror when a knife-wielding drug addict raided her till says she is thankful the robber has been caged.

Stacey Tottman feared for her life when "desperate" Armando Costa brandished the six-inch weapon in front of her eyes before fleeing with more than £190 to fuel his habit.

Portuguese national Costa was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Oxford Crown Court this month after admitting threatening his victim with the blade at the Bicester shop.

Following the incident, Miss Tottman was left so scared by the ordeal she had to quit her job, suffered nightmares and was even unable to leave her home alone.

But she now feels justice has been served and is able to move forward from her harrowing memories of the robbery.

She said: "As soon as I found out he went to prison, I was so happy and I felt like I was myself again – I felt like I was free.

"Hopefully he will learn something from it. The way I see it, he was just desperate. He had to come to steal for drugs, what sort of life is that?"

Prosecutor Jonathan Stone told the court Costa went into the McColl’s store at about 7pm, buying only a Snickers chocolate bar after 30 minutes there on May 23.

He said prosecutors believe the 46-year-old, of Priory Road, Bicester, was there to concoct his plan to rob the Market Square shop.

Mr Stone said Costa returned the next day, swiftly walking to Miss Tottman who was behind the till.

He pushed a hand-written note towards his victim, who was then the shop supervisor, telling her to stay calm and empty the till before reaching into his pocket to reveal the blade.

In CCTV played to the court, “aggressive” Costa stretched across the counter and forcefully rattled the locked till while horrified Miss Tottman asked him to leave.

But Costa marched behind the counter and opened the cash drawer before fleeing with the money.

She told the Oxford Mail she recalls instantly greeting Costa as he walked into the store but noticed him shaking as he pushed the note towards her.

The victim said she "felt like jelly" when the robber revealed his blade, cradling herself into the corner of the till area in fear before falling to the ground after the ordeal.

She added: "I think the worst bit of it all was when I watched it on the CCTV. I started screaming and crying because it felt like I was reliving it again."

Costa, who had no previous convictions, apologised to interviewing officers for his offending, telling police he needed the cash to fund his daily £40 to £50 drug habit.

Ms Tottman said she was concerned about people roaming the streets armed with knives but hopes other shop staff will learn from her suffering.

Now working in Bicester Village, said: "[I want people] to be thinking about their surroundings and making sure that they know what’s going on in their shop.

"I’m happy now, I have got to move on and think for my future. I want people to see my story and know that I understand how they feel and hopefully it might give them a bit of help."

Recorder Steven Gasztowicz QC ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife and told Costa to pay a victim surcharge.