A robber who pointed a 10-inch knife at two terrified victims has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Martin Bainbridge, 33, confronted shocked female workers at three separate small commercial outlets in Carlisle on the evening of March 5.

Bainbridge first attempted to rob a Bargain Booze in the city, and later targeted a Pizza Hut restaurant off London Road as families dined inside.

In between he visited the Peking Chef, in Petteril Bank Road, holding his blade just inches from the face of a stunned employee. The court heard they later suffered sleepless nights.

The robber seized what turned out to be an empty cash bag from that premises, also fleing empty-handed from the other two businesses.

Carlisle Crown Court today heard that Bainbridge was brought to justice after police amassed a wealth of damning evidence against him. He was said to have an "appalling" criminal record featuring 100 offences.

Bainbridge, latterly of Port Road, Carlisle, pleaded guilty to a robbery and two attempted robberies.

He was sentenced today and told by Judge Peter Davies he had targeted "vulnerable" workers.