THE owner of a York off-licence which has been held up at knifepoint five times in the last three months says she is sickened by the crimes that have plagued her store.

Alison Bootland, who runs B'n'T Stores, in Nunthorpe Road, was out with her husband celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary when a masked raider came into the shop and threatened the female shop assistant with a knife.

She told the Evening Press that the assistant, who was working alone when the robbery occurred just before 9pm on Easter Sunday, was so upset and shaken by the incident that she had quit her job and vowed not to return.

She said: "She was quite old and was really upset about it. The shop was quite busy at the time, but apparently he had waited outside the shop until it was empty."

Mrs Bootland, who lives above the shop, said the business had been targeted over the last three months.

"This is the fifth time this has happened, although this is the first time they got away with any cash. The other times they have taken goods like cigarettes," she said.

"It makes you sick."

She added that the attack had ruined their anniversary and Easter celebrations.

A police spokeswoman said that a youth had threatened to stab the assistant if she did not give him money from the till.

She said: "The assistant handed over a quantity of cash and the youth made off towards Scarcroft Green."

The 6ft robber was wearing a black jacket, dark baseball cap and had a black scarf on his face. He was described as having blond eyebrows, blue eyes and a local accent.

He was accompanied by a female, who had long straight blonde hair and wore a blue jumper and white tracksuit bottoms. The woman was under 5ft tall.

The couple were seen by witnesses walking towards Eastmount Road after the robbery.

Anyone with any information should contact York police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:11 Tuesday, April 22, 2003