A BUNGLING teenage shop raider who was recognised by an old school pal when he tried to rob him has been caged for two years.

Farhad Qazi, 18, was caught out after his 'disguise' -- of a scarf wrapped round his face -- fell off during the robbery at the Brierfield Co-op, Colne Road, during a struggle to snatch cash from the till.

Burnley Crown Court heard yesterday that Qazi, of Arthur Street, Brierfield, decided to rob the shop to get cash to pay off a drug debt.

But although the teenager managed to make off with £140 from the store following the December 7 raid, he handed himself into police later the same day.

He pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.

Phil Potter, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was wearing a scarf but when he walked into the shop the victim recognised him despite the disguise because of his stature and because he had known him for many years.

"The defendant reached out over the till and the victim thought he wanted to shake his hand so he did so.

"He then had to open the till to serve other customers and he asked the defendant to move away which he did.

"He then opened the till and as he did so the defendant lunged forward and grabbed a quantity of £5 notes.

"The shop assistant took hold of his wrist and the money but the defendant lunged forward again and grabbed some £10 notes.

"Again the victim took hold of the money and his hand and there was a tug-of-war with the notes in the middle.

"One of the notes ripped and the defendant fell backwards into a display of lager and fell onto his bottom and as he did so the scarf covering his face fell away completely and the witness was clearly able to see him.

"The defendant had a shocked expression on his face and ran out of the shop."

In his police interview Qazi said he had carried out the robbery to pay off debts owed to a cannabis dealer in Brierfield.

Ian Whitehurst, defending, said the robbery was committed out of desperation.

Judge Christopher Cornwall sentenced Qazi to two years in a young offenders' institute and said he hoped the punishment would serve as a warning to others.

He said: "I have to make it plain to you and others who think they can deal with drug debts by doing as you did that such conduct is wholly intolerable and will inevitably result in loss of liberty."

Qazi also pleaded guilty to a possession of cannabis charge for which he received no separate penalty.