A man has been jailed for five years after an armed robbery at a petrol station.  

On Tuesday, December 12, 49-year-old David McGowan entered the Shell petrol station in High Street, Newmarket wearing a black ski mask, racked the gun he was holding and removed a knife from his waistband. 

He placed a bag on the shop counter and told the staff member to place money and cigarettes into the bag. 

Officers were called shortly after McGowan left the building having stolen cash and cigarettes.

McGowan was arrested on December 29 and subsequently charged. 

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At an earlier hearing, McGowan pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of a knife in a public place. 

On Tuesday, April 16, he was sentenced to five years in prison at Ipswich Crown Court. 

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Carly Laflin said: "Incidents such as this are thankfully rare in Suffolk, however I can only imagine the impact this incident had on the staff member at the petrol station that evening and has continued to have on them since. 

"McGowan clearly had no respect for other people and only cared for his own financial gain. 

"He now has time in prison to think about his actions and hopefully consider the harm he has caused. 

"I know McGowan's actions will have had an impact on many people on many people in the community, not just the staff member in the petrol station and those that witnesses this, and I know the town will be grateful he is now behind bars."