A DRIVER was forced to hand over cash at gunpoint after stopping at an ATM.

Shaun Walsh’s attackers pointed a semi-automatic pistol at his knee and threatened to “plug him” after spotting him draw out money.

Mr Walsh had withdrawn £200 after stopping at a cash machine on Dovecot Avenue, Dovecot, during the early morning.

But Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Walsh only handed over £20, telling the pair he had got the cash out to get some petrol so he could get to work.

Ian Davies, prosecuting, told how one of the men then climbed into Mr Walsh’s car and ordered him to drive him to nearby shops.

As Mr Walsh dropped the robber off at shops in Dovecot, he threatened: “If you tell the police, I’ll come back and shoot you.”

Mr Walsh drove off without looking back, before calling the police after returning home.

He told officers: “I did exactly what he said because I thought he would kill me if I didn’t.”

Francis Bennett was arrested about 15 minutes later.

Judge Sean Duncan yesterday jailed Bennett, of Adcote Road, Huyton, for 4½ years, after he admitted robbery and having an imitation firearm at the time of committing an offence.