An Ipswich man who restrained a shopkeeper during a robbery at a convenience store in the town has been jailed for six years.

Sentencing 38-year-old Lee Evans, Judge David Pugh described the robbery as “terrifying” and said Evans, who’d been armed with a taser, had pinned the shopkeeper on the ground while his two accomplices stole cigarettes and cash.

Evans, 38, of Russell Road, Ipswich, had denied being involved in the robbery at Springs store in Spring Road, Ipswich in April 2019 but was convicted by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday ( November 17) after a three-day trial.

Following the jury’s verdict, he admitted a separate offence of having an offensive weapon, namely a knuckleduster, in  Robeck Road, Ipswich, in April last year. During his trial, the court heard that three men entered the Springs store at around 9.30pm and two were armed with a dumbbell bar and a taser device.

One of the intruders was wearing a balaclava and another was wearing a neckerchief which covered part of his face.

The shopkeeper was overpowered and held on the floor by Evans while the other men removed money from the till and a “significant” quantity of cigarettes and tobacco.

The intruders left the store with cigarettes and cash worth £1,300 and a mobile phone belonging to the shopkeeper.

The court heard that following the robbery Evans was recognised as one of the intruders by a probation officer from a CCTV still image.

The court heard that Evans has 47 previous convictions.