A robber who held up a store in Meopham said he was joking after staff refused to give him money.

Kris Brown, 35, with no fixed address, was armed with a hammer when he held up a Tesco Metro store in Wrotham Road on 11 September this year.

He was scared away, but unsuccessfully tried robbing another store 10 minutes later with a knife.

Brown was caught on CCTV on both occasions, and identified and arrested on Monday September 25.

He was also wanted for an earlier robbery in August, where he was also caught on CCTV stealing cash from a McColl's newsagents in Wrotham Road after asking for 20 cigarettes.

The court heard how he said: “I don’t want to hurt you. Give me all your money quick.” He fled the scene with what was thought to be around £200 and the cigarettes.

Brown pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery and two counts of possessing a knife at Maidstone Crown Court, and was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday 29 November.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Rob Sircar said: "Brown targeted three stores over the course of a month in an attempt to make a dishonest profit.

"His desperation and thoughtlessness for the victims of these crimes was clearly shown when he held up two of the shops within 10 minutes."

"I hope this sentence proves to be the wakeup call Brown needs. This behaviour will not be tolerated and will always end with a term behind bars."

Recorder David Jeremy QC told Brown: “You are at an age when you can be expected to take responsibility for yourself, something you have demonstrated you have completely failed to do, with consequences that are devastating for your family.

“It is obvious that for a person offering a public service in a shop and being confronted by a person waving a knife or hammer, it is a terrifying prospect.

“The bottom line is the answer is in your hands. It is up to you to decide whether you take advantage of the rehabilitation opportunities in custody and confront your drug habit.”