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A man who embarked on a robbery spree across Greater Manchester has been jailed.
Anthony Horrocks, 37, committed a series of robberies over a six-mile radius while brandishing a gun.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and four counts of possession of possession with a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence at an earlier hearing.
Horrocks, of no fixed abode, has now been handed a Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) at Manchester Crown Court, and must serve a minimum of six years before being eligible for parole.
The offender completed a previous prison sentence on 6th January, but turned back to crime within ten days of his release.
He entered a HSBC bank in Ashton-under-Lyne at about 9.20am on 16th January demanding cash, informing staff that he was carrying a gun. When the panic alarm was activated, he fled empty-handed.
Just 40 minutes later, he made the same threat at a Yorkshire Bank on Melbourne Street, Stalybridge. The time cashier handed over the contents of the till after realising the bag Horrocks was carrying appeared to contain a firearm.
CCTV footage from the bank showed Horrocks garbed in the same clothing in both robberies, except for a coat that he removed before arriving at the second location.
At around 2.15pm on Monday 23rd January, Horrocks struck again - this time at the Yorkshire Bank on Market Place, Oldham. He confronted the cashier after waiting in line and produced a white, screwed-up plastic bag that had a gun inside.
The staff member could make out the barrel of the gun, and again fearing she may be attacked filled up the bag with money.
CCTV footage captured Horrocks wearing red Manchester United hat, which was found when police later searched a house that was linked with the offender.
Three days later, Horrocks attempted to rob a Lloyds Chemist on Market Street, Hyde, using the same method. He was arrested two days later.
Detective Constable Richard Castley said: "It would not be an exaggeration to say that over just a 10-day period, Horrocks terrorised a number of businesses over a very small radius.
"He is clearly a very determined career criminal and was intent on causing as much fear as he could just to get his hands on some cash. He had only been out of prison for 10 days when he embarked on his one-man crime spree and were it not for the fact he was quickly identified and arrested by Greater Manchester Police, could very well still be out there today robbing businesses.
"I hope seeing him convicted and sent to prison gives those businesses, and just as importantly the members of staff he personally threatened with a gun, some sense of justice. Greater Manchester Police has made it a priority to catch people who target businesses because it is unacceptable that staff who work at financial institutions and shops should be faced with such violence.
"The overwhelming majority of people do not expect to be greeted by a man brandishing a gun in their place of work, and neither should people who work in the banking or retail sectors.
"I would also like to praise the actions of the officers who investigated these robberies for quickly identified a very dangerous and prolific robber and taking him off the streets where he can cause no more harm."
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