A FATHER who robbed six shops armed with a hammer and a knife has been jailed for more than six years.

Russell Toye, 39, of no fixed address, targeted Martin’s stores across Basildon stealing more than £1,000 in cash and hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes.

Basildon Crown Court yesterday heard how he carried out robberies at Martin’s in Clayhill Road, Basildon, Ballards Walk and Felmores End and others in the spree from March last year to April this year.

The court was told during the six robberies £1,760 was taken in cash and cigarettes worth more than £839 were also stolen.

Prosecuting Alexander Krikler said: “On November 20 he was arrested after being found with Class A, B and C drugs including crack cocaine.

“On November 29 there was an attempted burglary at JD Sports in Basildon when he used a drainage grate to try and smash in a window and threatened staff with a knife.

“On November 30 two women were working in Martin’s in Felmores End in Pitsea when the defendant entered wearing balaclava and carrying a large knife.

“One woman said she struggles to sleep and leave the house alone and suffers nightmares after the incident.”

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He told the court Toye robbed another store last March with a knife and hammer and again climbed over the counter to raid the shop of cigarettes and cash.

He said on November 23 there was another raid at the Martin’s store in Ballards Walk when he was armed with a hammer and he stole cigarettes.

Mitigating Parminder Panesar said: “He accepts responsibility and is remorseful. It was a period in his life when his relationship had broken down and he turned to drugs and squandered a significant amount of money.

“He didn’t cause or intent to cause any psychical harm and didn’t realise the consequences of his actions.”

Sentencing Toye, Judge Shane Collery said: “You were a drug addict committing offences that were going to lead to you spending a long time away from your family.

“There was some planning and this was a campaign against newsagents.”

Toye was sentenced to six years and four months in prison and three years on licence.