A shopkeeper gave chase to two robbers who threatened they were armed with gun and a knife, before making off with his till and cash.
One of the raiders, Steven Watkins, 23, was jailed for three years.
He pleaded guilty, at Leicester Crown Court, to robbery on May 21.
Sarah Knight, prosecuting, said the defendant and his unknown accomplice went into the newsagents at about 6am.
They approached the shopkeeper, Sarabjit Singh, saying "Give us all the money."
One of the raiders said: "I have a knife and a gun."
The till, worth £400, was recovered after being dumped in a garden but was damaged beyond repair, and about £200 cash it contained was missing.
Watkins who has more than 50 offences on his record, mainly for dishonesty-related crimes, but including an arson, also admitted three thefts relating to two satellite navigations systems, two amounts of cash (£40 and £100) which were stolen from vehicles parked on driveways and handling stolen binoculars, between May and August.
