Bungling robber Martin Johnson wrote TWO letters to the cashier he met in a Whitstable building society.

One was a demand for £30,000 in cash and the second an apology for his “disgusting and shameful” behaviour.

The 49-year-old alcoholic had gone into the Nationwide Building Society in the town in April at midday “looking like a rabbit in headlights”.

He passed cashier Alice Links a folded letter which read: “I’m sorry I have to do this. I have a weapon. Give me the money in your tills!”

The brave staff member then triggered the alarm and Johnson walked out empty-handed and phoned the police to confess.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how Johnson, of Cromwell Road, Whitstable, has written another letter which he asked to be passed onto Ms Links.

"I’m going to prison for this. I am sorry. What was I thinking? What would I have done with £30,000?..." - would-be robber Martin Johnson

His barrister, Lucy Luttma, told Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl: “It’s very brief, but it does come from the heart!”

But the note did not stop Johnson, who admitted attempted robbery and possessing a knife in public, from being jailed for two years.

Prosecutor James Keeley told how staff saw Johnson arrive in a drunken state, his eyes glazed and according to Ms Links: “He was not with it and looked like a rabbit in headlights.”

She noticed that the would-be robber had something concealed in a bag up his sleeve – later found to be a knife. After failing to get the money he returned home and called police to admit he had carried out the attack

He warned officers he would be violent if they came to his home to arrest him and later appeared with a knife behind his back.

Mr Keeley said that after being threatened by two police officers he would be Tasered, a tearful Johnson dropped the weapon and told them: “I’m going to prison for this. I am sorry. What was I thinking? What would I have done with £30,000?

“OK, I had a knife but I wasn’t going to hurt anyone. I just wanted some money.”

He later told police he was an alcoholic with a £45-a-day booze habit and no means to pay off his £3,000 debts.

Ms Luttman said Johnson had been struggling with alcoholism since leaving school.

“He is utterly ashamed and disgusted with himself. He had no need of £30,000 and no explanation for his behaviour.

“He is incredibly sorry to the building society and to the cashier who must have been terrified. That’s why he wrote the letter to the cashier, “ she added.