A sword-brandishing robber wearing a grotesque Halloween mask has been jailed for four years.

Anthony Marshall, 23, terrified two women shop assistants at Listers newsagent in Stone Hall Road, Eccleshill, Bradford.

He deliberately targeted the convenience store because he had worked there and knew it would be quiet early in the morning, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Marshall pulled up his hood and disguised himself in the skull mask to rob £135 from the tills at 6.45am on September 14.

But he wore only one glove because he could not find the other and was caught after leaving his fingerprint on the shop door.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie told the court yesterday that Amanda Banks, who was behind the counter, and Anita Hudson, who was working on the shop floor and knew Marshall from his employment at the shop, were left extremely distressed and anxious after the raid.

Mrs Banks, in her 40s, said she was “a nervous wreck” and suffered panic attacks.

Mrs Hudson, in her 60s, dreaded Halloween because callers might come to her door in similar masks, the court heard.

Marshall, of Mill Street, Bradford city centre, pleaded guilty to robbery with a weapon and possession of two bags of cocaine.

Mr Ritchie said he brandished a small sword and demanded that Mrs Banks hand over money.

She was “petrified” and gave him £50 from the till. He pointed the sword at the counter and ordered her to empty the second till, containing £85.

As he fled, shop owner Graham Lister bravely tried to stop him but he got away.

When police arrested Marshall they seized the mask from his home and the sword that was one of a collection of samurai swords at the address. They also found the cocaine.

Marshall told detectives he needed money to pay his rent. He said he was sickened by what he had done.

His solicitor advocate, Assumpta O’Rourke, said the weapons belonged to a former flatmate.

Marshall had written to his victims to say how sorry he was.

“He bitterly regrets the matter and wishes to put it behind him,” Miss O’Rourke said.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said Mrs Banks and Mrs Hudson were terrified by Marshall who wore a “particularly unpleasant” Halloween mask.

“This was, after hours of thought, a planned and determined attack against very vulnerable victims indeed,” the judge said.