A MASKED raider brandished a lit blowtorch at a terrified shop worker during a robbery.

Stephen McEwan, 41, yelled at the woman: "Do what I tell you and I will not harm you."

She initially thought he was joking - but the heat from blue flame of the blowtorch made her realise McEwan was serious.

A judge watched CCTV footage of the crime at the One O One shop in Glasgow's East End with the shop assistant described as "shaking with fear".

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McEwan and lookout Dylan Miller, 31, escaped with loot but were snared days later.

McEwan - who already had almost 100 convictions - has now been jailed for five years and five months after he admitted to the November 1, 2021, assault and robbery.

Miller was sentenced to four and a half years following his guilty plea to the same charge.

McEwan will be supervised for four years on his release with Miller two years.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how the raid occurred around 9pm at the shop in the city's Duke Street in Dennistoun.

McEwan walked in clutching a "weed killer style blowtorch" as Miller remained outside pretending to use a cash machine.

He then switched it on causing a large blue flame to be emitted.

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McEwan confronted a worker and told her: "Down the back shop, into the safe and give me the money.

"Do what I tell you and I will not harm you."

The robber and the woman entered an office where she told him the safe was on a timer.

Prosecutor Louise Beattie: "She was shaking with fear and also with the fact that the blowtorch was still being pointed at her.

"He kept telling her to hurry up. She asked that he take the blowtorch away and that would help her go quicker."

She put bundles of coins into his bag as McEwan further demanded to be given "all that there was".

He then got more cash from a till and also asked for a "sleeve of fags".

After being told the cigarettes were downstairs, he soon fled followed by Miller. McEwan wiped the door handle before escaping.

The pair were arrested together on November 5 after police got a tip where Miller was.

The court was told it is not known how much cash was stolen.

Mark Moir KC, defending McEwan, told the sentencing hearing: "Someone using a blowtorch near your face as a masked man robbed you must have been utterly terrifying for the victims."

Ross Yuill, defending Miller, stated that there was no significant planning and that he was even known to the shop staff.

Judge John McCormick said extended sentences had to be imposed on the pair so they could be supervised on their release.