A TEENAGE robber brandishing what was thought to be a handgun leaped over an Oxford petrol station counter to escape after forcing staff to hand over cash from the till.

Police today released CCTV images of the robbery at the Esso petrol station, in Oxpens Road, last month.

The hooded youth, with his face masked by a scarf, burst into the garage at about 9.35pm on Monday, October 12.

He threatened the shop assistant and brandished the gun. He demanded that the shop assistant open the safe but when he was told staff had no access to the safe, he ordered him to open the till, then grabbed £50 in £5 notes and £20 in £1 coins.

He also snatched cigarettes from a display and took the cashier’s wallet and mobile phone before he scrambled over the counter, above, and dashed out of the shop, inset, then ran off with two accomplices towards Beckett Street.

Dc Matthew Welsh said: “The shop worker wasn’t injured but obviously he sat there with a handgun pointed at him and doesn’t know if it was real or not. It was potentially a very dangerous situation.”

The robber was aged about 17 or 18 and spoke with a local accent. He is about 5ft 5in tall.

He was wearing a grey and black hooded top and black trousers.

Dc Welsh added: “It may be hard for someone to see who this person is, because his face is covered.

“But if anyone has heard about the raid or recognises the clothing he’s wearing, then I would like to hear from them.”

Anyone with information should call Dc Welsh on 08458 505505 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.