A violent robber who used a knife to threaten staff in four shops before stealing cash has been jailed for eight years.
Andrew Spencer, of no fixed address, stole hundreds of pounds between Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 October 2021 as he targeted four shops in Chatham.
He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 4 February 2022 after he admitted three robberies, four counts of having a bladed weapon in a public place and attempted robbery.
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The court heard how the 30-year-old went into a convenience store in Salisbury Road, Chatham, at 5.30pm on Thursday 7 October 2021 where he used a screwdriver to threaten an employee before he stole a quantity of cash.
The following day Spencer used a knife to threaten a woman working inside a shop in Luton Road, Chatham. He threatened the victim and demanded that she opened the cash till. He then stole hundreds of pounds before running out of the store.
On Saturday 9 October he went into a shop in Ordnance Road, where at around 12pm he again used a knife to threaten a woman working inside. He stole a large quantity of cash before running from the shop.
At around 4pm Spencer targeted another shop where he asked to buy a can of drink. He was served by a woman and as the till was open, produced a knife and attempted to grab cash from inside the drawer.
However, he was scared away by a male employee and left the store empty-handed.
Following a report of this robbery Kent Police officers went to the scene and commenced an area search. Spencer was found on New Road at 5.10pm matching the same description as the offender and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of robbery.
Spencer was then charged in connection with all of the incidents on Saturday 10 October.
Investigating officer, PC Harry Groves from the Chief Constables Crime Squad said: ‘Spencer used violence and force to threaten four innocent shop workers.
‘He brandished a large kitchen knife to put them in fear of their lives in order to steal money.
‘His actions will have a lasting impact on them mentally and his sentence is reflective of his offending.’