Paul Knox, 31, of Allendale Crescent, Penshaw, armed himself with a hammer, jumped on the counter at the Chisholm bookmakers in Crawcrook, Gateshead, and demanded cash.

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But he dropped most of it outside.

Knox handed himself into police a few hours later and admitted he had managed to get away with just £35.

He told officers he had carried out the raid to pay off the £8,000 gambling debts he had run up in just eight months.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Knox, who has previous convictions, targeted the shop just before closing time on July 3.

He walked in and said to the manager: "Howay mate, give me your money."

The court heard the manager initially thought he was joking, but quickly realised he was in danger when the claw hammer was produced.

Knox told the manager "I don't want to hurt you" before grabbing the cash and running off.

Just a few hours later Knox handed himself into a police station in Newcastle.

Prosecutor Rachel Currie said: "He presented himself at the front counter saying he had just robbed a bookmakers with hammer.

"In interview he made full admissions. He said he demanded money with the hammer in his hands.

"He said he had dropped some of the cash and got away with very little. He said there was only £35 left having dropped the rest in the process of running away."

Defence barrister Rachel Hedworth said Knox carried out the raid because of his gambling debts, which he had been hiding from his girlfriend.

Judge Esmond Faulks jailed Knox for three years.

The judge said: "It must have been a terrifying incident for the manager.

"You have gambling debts and because of the debts you started worrying and drinking to excess, that was what brought about this behaviour, which was out of character."