A robber who brought terror to a Notts town by targeting four shops in three weeks has been jailed.
Jamie Lakin (pictured above) went on the crime spree across Mansfield in July in a desperate attempt to pay off a £4,500 drugs debt.
He was finally caught when staff at a betting shop fought back, pulling a mask from his face.
A judge sentenced him to seventeen years in prison after he admitted the crimes.
He first struck on July 8, when he walked into the One Stop shop in Birding Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, armed with a kitchen knife and threatened a member staff.
Lakin first struck at a One Stop, threatening staff with a knife
He fled with just £20.
Next on July 12, he walked into the Sainsbury’s Local in Westfield Lane, Mansfield. He got away with a handful of £20 notes, telling a member of staff: “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you.”
On July 20 he robbed the Shell petrol station in Leeming Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse, again armed with a knife, taking around £150 in cash including £5 from a charity bucket.
Finally on July 24 he went into Ladbrokes in Ladybrook Lane, Mansfield, this time armed with an imitation gun and a stick and saying “give me everything you’ve got”.
After being told there was no money in the tills, Lakin hit a member of staff with a broom handle so hard it broke in two.
But he ran from the shop when the worker pulled the mask from his face.
He also threatened staff at a Sainsbury’s Local with a screwdriver
In court, Lakin, 39 and of no fixed address, admitted three robberies and one attempted robbery. He also admitted possession of an imitation firearm.
Det Con Neil Allsop said: “Lakin’s month-long crime spree caused great fear in the Mansfield community, not least among the town’s shopworkers.
“He would typically enter a shop late at night looking to profit from scaring and intimidating staff, often women working alone, who showed remarkable composure and bravery when faced with a masked man with a weapon.
“We hope this strong sentence sends out a positive message that we will bring any such person who thinks they can use weapons to terrify people and steal cash that they will be caught and held accountable for their actions.”
