A homeless robber has been jailed for six years after he lied about having a firearm to trick a betting shop worker into giving him £500.

Christopher Hall admitted walking into Bet Fred, in Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, and passing a threatening note to a cashier that said: "Put all the money in the bag. I have a gun."

When the worker hesitated, the 55-year-old offender said: "This is not a joke. I have a gun – don't push the button."

The employee, a man in his 40s, put the cash in Hall's bag.

A bystander tried to grab the robber as he left and again insisted he had a gun, but no weapon was ever seen by witnesses or found by officers.

The raid happened at about 9am on Wednesday, April 24. Hall handed himself in at Bournemouth police station six days later, when a CCTV image of his face was issued by Kent Police.

He pleaded guilty to robbery at Maidstone Crown Court.

DC Catherine Ruler said: "No one was hurt in the robbery but the victim was understandably scared for his safety when Hall was making threats about being armed.

"It became clear during interview that Hall had committed several robberies in the past and had the intention of robbing another premises that morning.

"He walked into a bookmakers not long after it had opened, in broad daylight.

"There were several witnesses to his actions and the good quality CCTV imagery showed he made very little attempt to cover his face."