A career criminal who smashed into a jewellers and fled with £53,000 worth of jewelry said his "terrifying" behaviour was down to a speech impediment.

Patrick McDermott, 31, crow-barred his way into Canterbury's Hadfield store with his face covered forcing staff to flee into a backroom shortly after 5pm on Wednesday, December 19.

Today, shocking footage showing his raid on the shop has been released by police, as he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and three years on license following his release, after being labelled "a professional robber."

His barrister Roderick James today told Canterbury Crown Court McDermott was forced to rob the Castle Street jewellers following a life of humiliation and mounting debt.

"He is a man who has had to deal with a profound speech impediment.

"When he is under pressure he finds it extremely difficult to communicate, it has led to humiliation which has underpinned his behaviour hitherto," he said.

But Recorder James Weekes sent McDermott to prison as the court heard McDermott had racked up 21 convictions, numerous for robbery.

He had planned to target the Canterbury store at 5.10pm after it closed.

Recorder Weekes said: "You are, as the prosecution has said, a professional thief and a robber.

"You and your accomplice approached the entrance to the jewelers, you put your hood up and your faces were covered.

"Thereafter you used a crowbar to smash the glass door and force your way inside.

"It is apparent to me that this would have been a truly terrifying ordeal."

CCTV showed the owners and one customer scramble to a backroom as McDermott and an unknown intruder hammered through the front door.

It showed McDermott smashing two or three jewellery cases in a raid that took about a minute, and a smaller individual throwing them in a bag.

The second person still hasn't been traced however, tests revealed blood left on broken glass belonged to McDermott who admitted the crime.

McDermott, of Corrance Road in Brixton was arrested in London on January 25 and charged with robbery and driving while disqualified.

He admitted to the charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison today.

He will also serve a further three years on licence under the terms of an extended sentence and has been disqualified from driving for 10 years.

Prosecutor Allistair Walker told the court the ordeal left the owners "shocked" and "jumpy" around customers.

"I felt terrified, my stomach was painful and knotted I was shocked and I cried when I got leave.

"This is the second time I was a victim to this.

The first time was eight years ago, I find myself jumpy around men in and out of the store," the victim impact statements said.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Steven East of Kent Police said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the victims who had to run to safety after witnessing what can only be described as a brazen burglary.

"Nobody should ever have to fear something like this happening in their place of work and we will continue to do everything we can to locate people like McDermott who are intent on breaking the law.

"Furthermore we’ll continue to review new evidence in the search of the second suspect in this investigation."

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury