A THUG who robbed a Port bookies at knifepoint was yesterday jailed for three years and nine months.

James Low, 30, took more than £1,000 from the Ladbrokes shop in Dubbs Road, right, on 1 March 2014.

He wore a mask during the raid and fled the scene in a taxi but was traced by police because he threw away his disguise after leaving the shop.

Low, originally of Port Glasgow, had pled guilty to a charge of assault and robbery before Judge Lady Rae at the High Court in Glasgow last month but sentence had been deferred until yesterday so the court could obtain reports about his character.

At earlier proceedings, the court heard how Low threatened a female member of staff with the blade before escaping with £1,039.

Prosecutor Andrew Brown QC said the woman was ‘shaken and upset’.

Officers investigating the raid later found the mask Low had worn during the robbery dumped at a nearby cycle path.

His DNA was on it which eventually gave detectives enough evidence to arrest him.

On Wednesday, the court heard how Low had expressed ‘remorse’ for his actions to the social worker who compiled a background report about him.

But Lady Rae, pictured inset, told Low that she had to send him to prison.

She added: “This was a very serious offence.

“The fact that it was a robbery in a bookmaker’s shop in which you threatened a member of staff whilst masked means I must impose a custodial disposal.

“It is clear that you have a drug problem and this drug problem is blighting your life.”