A MASKED man who robbed a supermarket after brandishing a liquid-filled syringe has been jailed for five years.

Lee Rudman, of Blenheim Drive, Witney, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after admitting one count of robbery and two counts of theft.

The 37-year-old targeted Tesco Express, in Fettiplace Road, Tesco Express, in Cogges Hill Lane, and Milton-under-Wychwood's Midcounties Co-operative store.

Prosecutor Alexandra Bull said Rudman was seen by staff at the Fettiplace Road shop wearing a balaclava and armed with a syringe on August 5 last year.

She said the father-of-five was seen climbing over the basket area, shouting at staff and opening the till, stealing £1,073.22.

Ms Bull said staff, who were "intensely panicked", rushed to the staff room and locked themselves inside before calling the police.

The prosecutor said Rudman, who was wearing a balaclava and dark clothing, stole £872.62 from the Cogges Hill Lane store on August 8 last year.

She said he used a knife to pull cables from the store's tills, shouting at a staff member to "stop shaking" before pointing the knife at them and leaving with three tills.

Ms Bull said Rudman was wearing a grey-hooded sweatshirt when he stole between £600 and £700 from the Midcounties Co-operative store on August 9 last year.

The prosecutor said a staff member opened the tills using their pin number after Rudman failed to force them open using the screwdriver he pulled from his pocket.

She said police later found a number of items discarded along Shipton Road, including cash and a screwdriver.

Defence barrister Ronan McCann said: "It's right that Mr Rudman has struggled with aspects of addiction throughout his adult life."

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle praised Rudman for wanting to take part in a restorative justice programme.

Rudman will also have to pay a victim surcharge.