A man who sparked a rooftop stand-off with police had threatened to stab shopkeepers in a series of terrifying knifepoint raids, a court has heard.

Leon Meminaj, 20, clambered up onto rooftops in the Silver Triangle area of Norwich is a bid to flee police who had warned people to "lock their doors" after the armed raids.

Armed response officers and a police negotiator together with fire and ambulance crews were called after reports of a man with a knife entering Silver Road Post Office, Angel Stores and a store on Waterloo Road demanding money. 

Police in Norwich after reports of a robberyPolice in Norwich after reports of a robbery (Image: Newsquest) John Morgans, prosecuting, said Meminaj, first went into the post office with a knife and his hood up.

Meminaj came round the till and told the worker, who had worked at the post office for about 35 years, "give me the f***ing money".

He said the worker "noticed a knife down the front of his (Meminaj's) trousers" but refused to comply, instead saying "you'll have to use that" referring to the knife.

Meminaj pulled out the knife and "hit him (the worker) in the forehead with the butt of the knife" resulting in a cut.

The raider then ran from the post office before striking at another store just minutes later.

Meminaj went into Waterloo Food and Wine in Norwich, with his face covered shouting at the woman behind the till to "open the till, I need money".

She set off a panic alarm and told Meminaj she would call the police which prompted him to run.

Mr Morgans said Meminaj then made his way to Angel Stores in Angel Road and demanded the shop keeper "give me all the money" before threatening to stab him.

He grabbed between £300 and £500 from the till before clambering onto rooftops in the Silver Triangle area to try and escape police.

He was arrested between 4pm and 6pm on June 23 this year.

Leon MeminajLeon Meminaj (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Meminaj, formerly of Rouen Road, Norwich, appeared at King's Lynn Crown Court for sentence having previously admitted robbery at Angel Stores and attempted robberies at the other two stores.

He was sentenced to a total of 54 months by Recorder Stephen Rouse.

Before he was sentenced the court was told Meminaj had pleaded guilty to the offences on the basis he owed money to drug dealers.