A thief who held a knife to the throat of a Peterborough shop worker as he tried to flee with stolen goods has been jailed.

Police say that Adam Swales (35) caused a small cut to the woman as he held the small knife to her throat during the incident at B&M, in Boongate.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire police said that Swales had confronted the woman as he tried to flee with stolen alcohol, electricals, and chocolate.

Police say the incident happened on February 9 last year and detectives arrested Swales nine days later when CCTV operators spotted him in Peterborough city centre.

Swales, of Bridlington, Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to theft from shop and assault by beating, but denied threatening a person with a blade in a public place.

But police say he was found guilty of the offence following a trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on April 3 last year, which he failed to attend.

The spokesperson said that Swales was jailed for 28 months and handed a five-year restraining order which bans him from entering B&M in Boongate when he appeared at Great Grimsby Crown Court on June 29.

Afterwards, Detective Constable George Corney, who investigated, said: “This was a truly harrowing experience for the victim, and I would like to applaud her bravery for reporting it and her continued support throughout the investigation.

“No one should face violence for simply doing their job, and I am glad that Swales’ sentence reflects this.”