A drug addict who terrified staff at a chemist when he robbed it at knife point has been given an extended sentence for public protection.

James Foley, 29, apologised to Angela Chawler when she went to serve him at Carlisle’s Chemist in Faversham: “I am sorry love to do this.”

He fled after grabbing £100 in notes and coins from the till, leaving Mrs Chawler and a heavily pregnant member of staff in distress.

Foley, of Charing Road, Twydall, Gillingham, admitted robbery and having the knife and was jailed for four-and-a-half years. He will be on licence for a further two years.

“You must understand that pharmacies such as this present easy prey for drug addicts where there is a need for money. This was an ugly incident indeed” - Judge Philip Statman

Maidstone Crown Court heard Foley wore not disguise and was a regular visitor to the chemist in Cross Lane to use the addicts’ needle exchange.

He went in at about 1.20pm on November 7 last year, stood “passively” at the counter and said nothing for a while.

But after making his apology he placed a large kitchen knife on the counter. Mrs Chawler immediately ran to the back of the chemist shouting: “He has got a knife.”

Prosecutor Eloise Marshall said another member of staff pushed the panic button. Foley “clumsily” snatched the cash and ran out, leaving the eight months pregnant woman sobbing.

Because he had been a regular at the chemist for about three months he was easily recognised. Police traced him to an address in Blaxland Close.

Miss Marshall said Foley had 21 convictions for 56 offences, including one for robbery in 2001 when he was 15 and another in Southampton in 2011, for which he was jailed for two years and eight months.

Judge Philip Statman was told there was not a minimum sentence for a “three strikes” robber.

The judge said both Mrs Chawler and the pregnant woman were understandably petrified.

He told Foley: “You must understand that pharmacies such as this present easy prey for drug addicts where there is a need for money. This was an ugly incident indeed.”

It was clear that an extended determinate sentence had to be passed because Foley presented a risk of causing serious harm.

A court had tried to assist him previously by imposing a drug rehabilitation requirement, the judge added.

Foley will have to serve at least two thirds of the sentence before the parole board will consider his release.

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