Masked raider Paul Wardle blew his cover when he took off his balaclava after a bungled robbery - to reveal striking orange-striped hair and a bright red face.

The 19-year-old, of Gidley Way, Horspath, was seen tearing off the mask by a crowd of people outside the Fox pub in Oxford Road, Tiddington, near Thame, just minutes after his failed raid at a nearby petrol station.

Yesterday at Oxford Crown Court he admitted attempted robbery and was jailed for five years.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, told the court Wardle walked into the petrol station and confronted cashier Susan Sermon as she was about to close up for the night.

He pulled out an air pistol wrapped in a white plastic bag and told her to give him notes from the till. He threatened to shoot her if she refused.

"She went behind the desk and with great presence of mind locked the till and pressed the alarm button," Mr Reid said.

Wardle fled from the shop empty-handed and a short distance away pulled off his balaclava.

Mr Reid continued: "He was seen running away by a large number of people. They all later described his streaky hair and said he was red in the face, clearly in a panic. He was also recognised by someone who knew him."

After Wardle was arrested, police found the gun and the balaclava in his car.

Although Mrs Sermon acted coolly, Mr Reid said she was left badly shaken and crying.

Penny Ireland, defending, said Wardle had been hooked on heroin and needed money to pay for his next fix.

She said: "This is the most stupid act he has done in his life."

Recorder Richard Challinor told him: "The message has to go out that if people get hooked on drugs and use guns to hold up small petrol garages they will be shown no mercy."

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