Dixon-Waterworth and an accomplice targeted the N&D Parker newsagents in Beeston, making off with the contents of the till and packs of cigarettes.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the owner and an assistant had been in the shop, located at the corner of Cross Flatts Grove and Marsden Grove, since around 5am on March 5 this year.
At approximately 6:20am, they noticed a man peering through the window before Dixon-Waterworth burst in, brandishing what appeared to be a pistol, followed by the other man. Both were wearing dark surgical-type masks.
The weapon was pointed at the owner, who was ordered to open the till. He complied, handing over about £200 in cash.
Dixon-Waterworth then demanded cigarettes, and around 20 packets were placed on the counter and scooped into a bag. The robbers also demanded the workers’ mobile phones, but fled when told neither had one.
Dixon-Waterworth removed his mask enough for CCTV stills to be analyzed by police, leading to his identification and arrest.
The 40-year-old denied involvement, and the gun was found to be a fake. Held on remand in HMP Lincoln, he appeared in court this week via video link, admitting to charges of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.
The other man was never identified. Dixon-Waterworth, of no fixed address, has 47 previous convictions for 126 offenses.
Mitigating, Michael Walsh conceded Dixon-Waterworth has a long criminal record, and added: “Having said that, this level of seriousness is an excursion. With that in mind, he has turned his focus to thinking about the effects of his criminal offending. He is a man who shows genuine remorse and understands the effects of his offending. It’s something he has perhaps not done in the past.”
