A brazen robber caught on CCTV snatching cash from an elderly man and bottles of booze from a shop at knifepoint has been jailed for nearly four years.
Michael Hooper was filmed asking for money from the 76-year-old man who had just taken some cash out at a Sainsbury's in Crawley, West Sussex, and was preparing to leave on his bicycle.
But when the pensioner refused to hand it over and waved him away, the 43-year-old thief pushed him and grabbed the cash from him before escaping.
A month later Hooper entered a newsagents, again in his hometown of Crawley, and tried to buy a bottle of whiskey.
After his card was declined, however, he reached over the counter and took a 70cl bottle of booze before fleeing the shop without paying.
Video footage saw the careless robber return to the same shop only an hour later, with his hood up and brandishing a red Stanley knife in his right hand and a yellow one in his left.
Scared staff activated the security alarm before Hooper again reached over the counter to grab two more 70cl bottles of whiskey and then ran out of the shop.
Both of the incidents, in April and May last year, were captured on CCTV and Hooper was soon identified and arrested.
He was charged with burglary, two counts of robbery and two counts of possession of a knife in a public place.
Hooper pleaded guilty to all five offences and was sentenced last month at Lewes Crown Court to 44 months in prison.
Inspector Steve Turner, of the Crawley Neighbourhood Policing Team at Sussex Police, said Hooper's quick arrest served as a reminder that they wouldn't tolerate knife crime.
He said: "While Hooper fully admitted the offences in police interview, it does not lessen the impact on the victims, who understandably feared for their own safety.
"Thankfully we were able to quickly identify him from the CCTV footage, and this demonstrates the value of our officers regularly patrolling the town and being able to recognise people of interest.
"We continue to work with partners and the community to provide education around the dangers of knife crime, and to prevent, detect and respond to any incidents.
"This case should serve as a reminder that we absolutely will not tolerate knife crime, and anyone caught in possession of a knife in public can expect to be dealt with robustly."
Michael Hooper was filmed asking for money from the 76-year-old man who had just taken some cash out at a Sainsbury's in Crawley, West Sussex, and was preparing to leave on his bicycle.
But when the pensioner refused to hand it over and waved him away, the 43-year-old thief pushed him and grabbed the cash from him before escaping.
A month later Hooper entered a newsagents, again in his hometown of Crawley, and tried to buy a bottle of whiskey.
After his card was declined, however, he reached over the counter and took a 70cl bottle of booze before fleeing the shop without paying.
Video footage saw the careless robber return to the same shop only an hour later, with his hood up and brandishing a red Stanley knife in his right hand and a yellow one in his left.
Scared staff activated the security alarm before Hooper again reached over the counter to grab two more 70cl bottles of whiskey and then ran out of the shop.
Both of the incidents, in April and May last year, were captured on CCTV and Hooper was soon identified and arrested.
He was charged with burglary, two counts of robbery and two counts of possession of a knife in a public place.
Hooper pleaded guilty to all five offences and was sentenced last month at Lewes Crown Court to 44 months in prison.
Inspector Steve Turner, of the Crawley Neighbourhood Policing Team at Sussex Police, said Hooper's quick arrest served as a reminder that they wouldn't tolerate knife crime.
He said: "While Hooper fully admitted the offences in police interview, it does not lessen the impact on the victims, who understandably feared for their own safety.
"Thankfully we were able to quickly identify him from the CCTV footage, and this demonstrates the value of our officers regularly patrolling the town and being able to recognise people of interest.
"We continue to work with partners and the community to provide education around the dangers of knife crime, and to prevent, detect and respond to any incidents.
"This case should serve as a reminder that we absolutely will not tolerate knife crime, and anyone caught in possession of a knife in public can expect to be dealt with robustly."
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