A robber who threatened security staff with a syringe or knife during raids on shops has been jailed for four years.

During one robbery at McColl’s in Chatham, Robert Jones swept a large amount of meat into a bag declaring: "I am homeless. I am taking what I like."

The 33-year-old scaffolder had only been out of prison 17 days when he went into Wilko’s in The Pentagon on July 19 and was seen putting items in a bag.

When confronted by a security officer he pulled something out of his tracksuit bottoms and threatened to “stick him” with it.

The officer was not sure if it was a knife or a needle, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

“He backed off and Jones left with the goods.”

Five days later Jones he was in McColl’s in Luton Road when the security guard heard an alarm. He then saw Jones loading a bag with meat.

The guard shut the door to stop him leaving and told him to put back the items, which also included coffee and biscuits.

Prosecutor Lucy Luttman said Jones took out a Japanese butterfly knife with a 6in blade and flicked it around in his hand.

He pointed it towards the guard and shouted: “Get out of my way. Move out of the way and let me leave.”

He fled taking the items worth £40 with him.

Jones raided the store again on August 9. Staff saw him using his arm to sweep large amounts of meat into his bag. He was told to put it back and leave.

When the security guard tried to take the bag from him, he pulled out a syringe and declared he was homeless and taking what he liked.

He took some other goods, saying: “I’ll have these as well.”

“The officer said he was very aggressive and in no doubt he was prepared to use the syringe against him,” said Miss Luttman. “

Jones, of no fixed address, left with the goods worth £50.

Police officers identified him from CCTV and he was arrested two days later.

"Threatening somebody with a knife or syringe is a very serious matter" - Judge Adele Williams

He admitted three offences of robbery and asked for a shoplifting and common assault to be taken into consideration.

He took two bottles of brandy worth £60 from Sainsbury’s in the Pentagon Centre and tried to take the security tags off.

When spotted, he brandished a syringe at a security officer.

Jones, who has previous convictions for 38 offences, said he intended to sell the brandy to buy drugs.

John Connor, defending, said the father had a relatively well paid job but went off the rails following the death of his mother last year and resorted to using heroin.

“He went shoplifting to finance his habit,” said Mr Connor.

“He appreciates this is a serious escalation. He is ashamed and apologises for his actions.

“He appreciates there will be a lengthy custodial sentence. In one way he is surprisingly grateful for that because he will get some help.

“He has started a programme and is on methadone.”

Judge Adele Williams said: “To threaten someone with a syringe is really nasty.

“There is no doubt your actions caused stress and fear to the security guards.

"Threatening somebody with a knife or syringe is a very serious matter.”

The judge added: “I hope you will use the time to get yourself off drugs and on your release put your life in order.”