THE manager of a Tilehurst Post Office has told of the terrifying moment his staff were held at knifepoint earlier this year.

Last week, Gavin Mackie was sentenced for robbery after he walked into the School Road store and brandished a kitchen knife.

CCTV released following the sentencing shows Mackie walking in at 4.45pm wearing a black t-shirt, a black cap and a balaclava.

READ MORE: Man jailed after robbing Tilehurst Post Office

He approaches the counter where a staff member is behind the till and climbs over the barricade with the knife in his hand.

The staff member turns around to be confronted by the 30-year-old having turned their back and not seen him climb over the counter.

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Unsurprisingly, the employee jumps out of shock when she sees Mackie with the knife in hand, and subsequently opens the cash register for him.

Mackie takes a large wad of cash before climbing back over the barrier.

The store manager presses the panic button and Mackie leaves the store.

Following a request from the store manager, the Chronicle is not publishing the CCTV footage.

The manager, who asked not to be named, told the Chronicle about the incident.

He said: “I was in the office and I heard the screaming.

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“I saw he had a knife and he asked to open the till and give him some money.

“I pressed the panic alarm and I chased him almost half a mile [down Armour Road].

“I was chasing him not to catch him, but because I knew the police would be there soon and I could tell them ‘he’s gone this way or to this house’.

“For an instant, for a moment, we didn’t know what to do. There were customers inside the shop, it happened at like half-past four on a sunny day, so that shook us.

“It’s easy to explain now, but at that moment we all just blanked -- we didn’t know what to do.

“It was scary, but I was happy he got caught -- that’s the main thing.”

Mackie was sentenced to four years in prison for robbery and possession of a knife.

However, the store manager was not pleased with the length of the sentence.

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He continued: “I wasn’t happy at all. He will spend two years in prison and two years on licence.

“For armed robbery, I think it’s not that good.

“I would have been happier if it was longer. I wanted him to get at least six years inside, not two years inside.”

Speaking after Mackie’s sentencing, Investigating officer Detective Constable Phil Marchant, said: “I’m pleased for the victim that justice has been served as this was a terrifying ordeal for them while they were at work.”