A ROBBER who carried out five frightening raids wearing a bright yellow fluorescent jacket has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years.

Terence Cole had four previous convictions for similar offences when he went on a two-week spree last year.

The 50-year-old launched raids on four building societies and one bank, wearing a scarf over his face and carrying a bag staff feared contained a gun.

Cole, of Prospect Row, Chatham, grabbed over £8,000 in four of the robberies but was foiled in the fifth by a brave cashier who brought down a security screen.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that he went into Lloyds TSB in Chatham High Street on December 5 when staff were preparing to lock the main door.

He walked up to cashier Gary Andrews and demanded: "Give me all the money." When Cole put a carrier bag on the counter, Mr Andrews could make out a shape, which he thought might be a gun.

Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, said as the cashier handed over the money, Cole’s scarf slipped down his face. Cole stuffed £3,700 into the bag and left.

Cole fled and 10 days later, wearing similar clothing, he went into the Halifax Building Society in Strood High Street just as staff were cashing up. He approached cashier Carly Glover and demanded money.

"She activated the security screen, which seemed to take an age, but suddenly shot up, throwing bank notes and leaflets into the air," said Mr Prosser.

The screen trapped a carrier bag Cole was holding and his fingerprint was later lifted from it. He fled empty-handed.

The same afternoon, he went to the nearby Nationwide Building Society and told cashier Linda Glover to fill up his bag with cash. As he left with £3,040, he warned: "You had better not lock me in."

Cole discarded clothing in public toilets, including the high visibility jacket.

He admitted three robberies and one attempted robbery.