A MASKED knife-wielding robber has been given four years jail for raiding a pub full of punters, a bookmakers and a shop during a two-week crime spree.
Convicted burglar Jaymes Lang, 23, burst into The Sun Inn in Feering, on April 14, punched a barman in the face, and forced customers and other staff to lie face-down on the kitchen floor while he and his accomplice Craig Winskill robbed them at knifepoint.
Two days earlier, jobless Lang, formerly of Witham and Greenstead in Colchester, had walked into the Ladbrokes betting shop in Newland Street, Witham.
He was jailed for four years today after admitting three armed offences in Feering, Braintre and Witham and was sentenced when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Lang and Winskill admitted robbery at The Sun pub, Feering, on April 14, and Lang pleaded guilty to robbery at the Co-op Braintree on April 22 and attempted robbery at Ladbrokes betting shop in Witham on April 12.
Investigating officer DC Christine Rhodes, of Braintree CID, said: "Lang carried out three serious armed offences in just over a week and put his distressed victims in fear of their lives.
"Three female customers were assaulted during the burglary at the pub. They had knives held to their necks and were pulled by the hair as Lang and an accomplice forced them and members of staff into the kitchen while they tried to steal cash and valuables.
"He is a ruthless criminal and we are delighted that members of the public have helped CID and uniformed officers to lock him up out of harm's way."
