A MASKED knifeman who terrorised a village shop was jailed for four years as a judge praised members of the community who helped bring him to book.

Burnley Crown Court had heard how 'amateurish' James Trotter, 24, had made off from the premises with more than £300 -- but his carrier bag had a hole in it and he left a trail of cash behind him. Shopkeeper Jill Greenwood later told police she did not think he knew what he was doing.

Trotter, said to have been depressed and worried at the time, had tried to escape down country lanes, followed by a member of the public and had then stopped and confronted the man with the knife.

Sentencing him, Judge Lesley Newton said Mrs Jill Greenwood and her friend who was with her must have been terrified.

She said she accepted such behaviour was not the sort of thing Trotter normally indulged in, but people who ran small shops were very vulnerable to those like the defendant.

Judge Newton added she wanted to commend the villagers of Goosnargh, who worked together to apprehend Trotter.

She also praised the police who showed a considerable amount of initiative and bravery chasing somebody they knew was armed with a knife across the fells. Trotter, who lives in Dudley, Northumberland, admitted robbery in August.

Philip Holden, prosecuting, said Mrs Greenwood was in the Village Shop at about 4.40pm, when the defendant entered and demanded cash.

She attracted the attention of her friend, who followed Trotter's car and stopped behind it, after pursuing him at speeds up to 70mph.

When Trotter was interviewed by police he said he had taken tamazepam, valium and alcohol and couldn't remember what he had done in the previous two days. The prosecutor added Trotter had 45 previous convictions, but had never been to prison.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Trotter wanted to apologise to the two women.