A MAN robbed the cafe where he used to work of £1,200 after he ran up debts for income tax and his daughter's university fees.

Nicholas Hart, a 50-year-old contract caterer for a local authority, donned a balaclava and walked into Pick-a-Dish on the Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford, armed with a lump hammer.

He demanded the safe's keys from terrified worker Linda Bridges and walked out with the cash, Worcester Crown Court heard.

But police found Hart sitting in his car a few hundred yards away, shaking and sweating, said prosecutor Martin Jenkins. He confessed, admitting he had "chickened out" of an earlier attempt on the premises.

Sentencing Hart, of Shakespeare Road, Hereford, to three-and-a-half years' jail, Judge Andrew Geddes said: "This was an act of unbelievable stupidity and criminality. It is difficult for anyone to understand what motivated you."

The judge said he had brought trauma on Mrs Bridges - whom he knew - and suffering on his wife and two children.

He added that many people suffered from money problems but did not feel compelled to commit robbery.

Mrs Bridges, also aged 50, had opened up the cafe at 6.15am. She saw the door swing open and Hart stood there wielding the hammer.

She curled up in a ball on the floor as he robbed the safe of £1,216. He left but returned to retrieve his forgotten hammer, said Mr Jenkins.

Defence counsel Richard Franck said Hart, who admitted robbery, had worked for Bulmer's for a fortnight and then got an erroneous tax demand. He borrowed cash to pay it but then got a university bill. He was about £1,000 in debt.

"He was so appalled by his behaviour that instead of driving off he took his mask off and sat there shaking in his car," said Mr Franck.

"He is deeply sorry to Mrs Bridges.

"None of his family can understand how he came to commit this offence."

As a caterer, he worked at different schools. Hart was valued as he was suspended, not sacked.

"His family is going to be in dire straits during his incarceration. But it is such an unusual case when a man of 50 goes in as so high a level of criminality," Mr Franck added.