An armed robber who raided four travel agents disguised with make-up, sunglasses and a long ginger wig is facing a long jail sentence.

David Bentley took no part in his trial having declined to leave his prison cell while on remand.

The 54-year-old tyre firm boss, formerly of Orpington, denied four offences of robbery and four of having an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, but was convicted of all charges.

His former girlfriend Justyna Pietrzak, of Palmer Avenue, Gravesend, was convicted of the four robberies and acquitted of the firearm charges.

She denied all the charges claiming that Bentley put her under duress to act as his getaway driver.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the couple netted more than £46,000 in the raids.

Bentley brandished a gun as he pounced at Thomson’s in Folkestone, Tonbridge and Boston, Lincolnshire, and Thomas Cook in Caterham, Surrey.

Each time he was heavily disguised in a long ginger wig, sunglasses and make-up.

After he grabbed sterling and foreign currency, Pietrzak, 29, drove him away.

“Evidence suggest they later split the cash taken,” said prosecutor Anthony Prosser.

One one occasion Bentley’s disguise slipped and he could be clearly recognised on CCTV footage.

Recorder Jason Dunn-Shaw adjourned sentence until October 17.

A report will assess Bentley for dangerousness. Pietrzak was granted bail.

The judge told her: “I will arrange it so that you are not in the dock at the same time as Bentley.”

The jury heard the first raid was at Thomson’s in Tonbridge High Street on April 27 last year.

Bentley pointed a handgun at manageress Emma Butler and threatened to shoot her.

He ordered her to fill a bag with money and fled with £7,033. Pietrzak drove him away in a Citroen Xsara Picasso.

CCTV showed Pietrzak had made a “reconnaissance” visit to the travel agents four days earlier.

The second raid was at Thomson’s in Church Street, Folkestone, on June 12 last year.

Bentley pointed a gun and ordered manageress Melanie Jones and staff into a back room.

A customer entered and then tried to run away, but Bentley pulled her back and threatened to shoot her.

He left with £21,828.

The third raid was on Thomas Cook in Mount Pleasant Road, Caterham, on July 8 last year.

Bentley brandished a gun at manageress Claire Sellar and made off with £15,875 in sterling and other currencies.

But some of the cash bags contained an automatic sensor which released red smoke and dye.

Bentley was seen running with red smoke coming out of the bag.

In the fourth raid at Thomson’s in Boston on September 26, Bentley ushered staff into a back office and kicked open the door to the bureau de change.

The safe was opened and he took £2,157.

Bentley was arrested two weeks later at his home.