ONE of the notorious White brothers from Weston-super-Mare has been jailed for more than four years after threatening a shopkeeper with a machete.

Robert White, of Pembroke Road, pleaded guilty to robbery when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court.

The court was told that the charge related to an incident at the Whitecross News and Gifts store on October 1.

White, aged 21, is known locally and nationally and has been in and out of court since the age of 12.

John Penny, prosecuting, told the court that White entered the newsagents in Whitecross Road at 4.30pm with another man.

He said the defendant had disguised himself by pulling his coat up over his face and was armed with a machete.

He cornered shop owner Keith Scott.

White struck Mr Scott on the leg with the flat side of the machete and hit a fridge and the counter in front of him.

Mr Penny told the court how an accomplice, who was carrying a hammer, then stole money from the till.

The court heard that White has a string of previous convictions for dishonesty, violence and possession of a bladed article.

Anjali Gohil, defending, said his client accepted he used the weapon in order to fund his heroin addiction, which he is now desperate to combat.

Judge Michael Longman sentenced White to four years and three months in jail, less 23 days he has already served.

He said stores such as Mr Scott's provide a very important service to the public and occupiers must be protected.

Speaking after the sentence, superintendent Chris Weigold, head of operations from Weston-super-Mare police station, said: "A second man has been arrested in connection with the robbery, and bailed pending further enquiries."

He said: "I am delighted the court imposed such a substantial sentence.

"This sends a clear message to anyone considering such action that they will be tracked down, arrested and face a long time behind bars.

"While this was clearly a traumatic incident for those involved, thankfully such incidents are rare and crime within North Somerset continues to fall."