A MAN who held up a Blackburn petrol station with a child's plastic pellet gun has been sentenced to life in prison.

And in sentencing John Swannack Judge Robert Brown recommended that he should serve five years before becoming eligible for parole.

Preston Crown Court heard that dad-of-two Swannack, 41, of Cornelian Street, Blackburn, had previous convictions for manslaughter, robbery, and possession of a firearm and since 1986 had been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment.

Swannack was eligible for an automatic life sentence for the most recent robbery in September 2003 because of his previous convictions.

In 1986 he was sentenced to five years for two offences of robbery relating to the Marsden Building Society in Blackburn; in 1989 he was sentenced to three years for for attempted robbery and possession of a firearm and in 1993 he received an eight year sentence for manslaughter, following the death of his best friend Billy Haggart who was beaten to death with an iron bar.

Swannack attacked Haggart after they rowed about paying for a holiday in Corfu in August 1992. The body lay undiscovered on the balcony of Swannack's flat in St Michael's Court, Larkhill, Blackburn, for two weeks because friends believed he was away on holiday.

Peter Horgan, prosecuting, told the court that in the most recent incident, on September 15 last year, Swannack had entered Park Garage on Whalley New Road, wearing a builders hard hat, luminous green workman's coat and sunglasses.

He had a copy of a newspaper and 50p in his his hand, which he handed to assistant Rita Calvert.

When she went into the till to get some change, he reached over and grabbed £420 cash.

Mr Horgan said: "Rita Calvert was totally shocked and petrified, in fear for her life."

The following day a plastic BB toy handgun was found near to the scene of the robbery and police officers searching the area found the hat, jacket and newspaper in a nearby skip.

Forensic tests on the hard hat and jacket revealed Swannack's DNA.

A witness also came forward to say she had seen Swannack on the day of the robbery, dressed in the clothing.

Kevin Talbot, defending, said that prior to the robbery Swannack's mother had been in ill health and had been having financial difficulties.

He said on the day of the robbery Swannack had been dressed as a builder in a bid to get some work but had been unsuccessful.

Mr Talbot said Swannack also wanted to apologise to Rita Calvert for the distress he had caused her.

Swannack pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

After the case, Det Insp Ian Critchley said: "This was a particularly horrific experience for the victim, who had a firearm pointed at her, and she was left deeply upset and distressed.

"I believe the appropriate sentence has been passed. He is clearly a dangerous man who has committed offences like this in the past."

Victim Rita Calvert said: "The incident has left me extremely shaken and upset. I felt and still feel extremely distressed by the whole experience and I am satisfied with the sentence."