A ROBBER threatened to cut a terrified teenage cashier's throat before bundling her into the toilets of a Pendle petrol station and stealing thousands of pounds.

Toni Bleakley, 19, was closing up Pendle View service station, Colne Road, Brierfield, above, when she was grabbed from behind and threatened. She did not see a weapon but was terrified what the robber might do.

She was forced into the toilets at the Total garage and warned to stay there while money was taken. Police declined to say how much cash was stolen but it is understood that around £4,000 was taken from the safe and the till.

Julie Moore, who also works at the petrol station, said: "Someone sneaked up behind her as she was closing up the station. They grabbed her jacket behind her neck and pushed her into the toilet.

"She only heard one person but she got the feeling there were two of them involved. She dared not turn round because she was afraid of what might happen. "She was really shaken up by it. She hardly got a wink of sleep afterwards."

Toni stayed in the toilets for 20 minutes because she was scared to come out, before raising the alarm. Detective Sergeant Mick Baker, of Nelson CID, said: "The woman was putting down the shutters outside the garage when she went back into the shop area.

"She was followed in by a man who attacked her from behind and threatened to cut her throat unless she did what she was told. She locked herself in the toilet and the man helped himself to a large amount of cash from the safe in the office and the garage till.

"The girl could not give a description of the man because she only saw his arm and a glove. He spoke with an Asian accent."

The incident happened at 9.55pm on Wednesday. DS Baker appealed to witnesses who saw anyone acting suspiciously on or around the garage between 9.45pm and 10.15pm to contact Nelson CID on 01282 425001.

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