A masked robber who entered a Malvern shop carrying a pistol was ordered outside by a brave assistant with the words "on your bike".

Philip Dudson obeyed Pauline Hughes' command while she went to alert a neighbouring shop.

As Dudson stood near his getaway motorcycle, shopkeeper Christopher Berger demanded he remove the scarf covering his face - and the bungling crook complied, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Police who arrested him two days later found the replica Colt 45 he took to the Sandy B gift shop in Malvern Link.

And they discovered a double-barrelled shotgun stolen by the defendant from an office in Alfrick.

Prosecutor Alex Warren said: "Mrs Hughes could see a silver barrelled gun protruding from the sleeve of his jacket. She pushed the bag he had given her away, opened the shop door and said: on your bike!"

Dudson, a 21-year-old agricultural labourer, of Sherrards Green Road, Malvern, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and theft of the shotgun. He was jailed for three and a half years.

Judge Robert Juckes QC said he had confronted Mrs Hughes pointing the fake but realistic pistol at her and demanding money.

He told him: "She found herself in a terrifying situation. But her reaction was one of the most impressive courage. You lost your courage and backed off.

"Mr Berger also showed great courage in confronting you again."

The judge said it was deeply worrying that Dudson, who had suffered from psychiatric problems, was also in possession of the deactivated shotgun, whose legitimate owner he knew.

Dudson woke up feeling depressed on the morning of November 13 last year and decided to borrow money from his mother for heroin, said Mr Warren.

But he never got to her home, deciding around 2pm to rob the shop while dressed in a hoodie.

He approached the counter pushing a bin bag towards 60-year-old Mrs Hughes and demanded: "Put the money into the bag."

As he raised his arm towards her face, she could see the pistol.

Dudson told police the pistol belonged to his brother. He had no recollection of the hold-up.

Simon Phillips, defending, said Dudson was at his lowest level after injury caused him to be off work. He had no money to buy drugs.

He had no previous convictions and was a naive young man who had "committed a despicable act" out of character.

Mr Phillips said he had struggled with mental health issues but had managed to hold down a job for four years.