AN ARMED raider who brought terror to two Burnley post offices in one afternoon was today starting a five and a half year jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how partly "masked," drug addict Stewart Entwistle, 30, pointed what appeared to be a handgun at a postmistress causing her to flee to the back of the premises. Shortly after he arrived by taxi at another office and pulled the trigger twice after plucky postmaster Salim Moosa ordered him out of the shop. Enwtistle was later found by armed police "cowering," in the loft at the home of a man who had thrown away the clothing worn during the two attacks.

Sentencing Entwistle, Judge David Pirie said the victims must obviously have been frightened and no course other than custody could be justified.

The defendant, of Dall Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted two counts of attempted robbery.

John Crawford, 43, who disposed of Entwistle's clothing, was given 150 hours community punishment. Crawford, of Reed Street, also Burnley, had pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of another.

Charles Brown, prosecuting, said on March 8, shortly after 3pm, postmistress Linda Pounder was in her office on Parliament Street, when Entwistle entered with a fleece zipped over his mouth and nose. He appeared to be mumbling something and was agitated and nervous. The postmistress rang the police. Shortly after, Entwistle turned up at another post office on Oxford Road and again went in with his jacket zipped up and still armed with the gun.The defendant demanded postmaster Mr Moosa give him bank notes and banged the weapon on the protective screen. Mr Moosa told Entwistle to get out of his shop and the defendant twice pulled the trigger. Mr Brown said Entwistle then left the post office, seen by two customers and police were alerted again.

After the second attempted raid, the taxi driver, who knew nothing of what was going on, took Entwistle and his girlfriend to an alley at the back of Reed Street.

Police arrived minutes later and Crawford was spotted coming out of a house and throwing a bundle of clothing over a wall.

The prosecutor said a search of the house by armed police revealed a gas air pistol hidden under a mattress.

Postmistress Linda Pounder had only been in her post for about a year and was left nervous of sudden noises and customers going into the shop quickly.

Robert Crawford, defending, said Entwistle claimed he had written to the two victims to apologise. He had had the courage to plead guilty and had been frank with the police.

The gun was a hand air-type pistol which fired pellets not bullets. It had neither pellets in it nor gas in it to fire them.

Enwtistle had been on cocaine and heroin, spent £60 a day on drugs and owed £1,500. He was "under the influence," when he committed the offences.