A DRUG addict held up a betting shop at knifepoint before fleeing with cash, a court has heard.

Carl Critchley, aged 31, of Denshaw Avenue, was arrested as part of Operation Crackdown, a campaign by police to rid the borough's streets of alleged drug dealers.

Critchley appeared at Warrington Crown Court on Friday where he admitted a charge of robbery as well as conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely diamorphine and crack cocaine.

The court heard that the robbery took place on June 21.

Critchley entered Ladbrokes betting shop on Howson Road in Orford just before 4pm. He was wearing dark clothes and approached a senior member of staff before threatening her with a six-inch kitchen knife, saying: "I want the money from the till and don't make any noise."

She handed him more than £200. The court heard that since the incident his victim has suffered panic attacks and has resigned from work.

Critchley was arrested for the drug offences after he dealt drugs to undercover police officers from a car on April 27.

Michael Davies, representing Critchley, told the court the offences were committed to feed his drug addiction and that he had been involved in the dealing of drugs only to help maintain his own supply.

Judge Stephen Clarke said that in many ways Critchley was a victim of drugs himself but that his offending had taken a turn for the worse.

Critchley was jailed for three years for the robbery and a further 12 months for the drug offences.