Jail for drug-addicted armed robber

He was only caught after being tackled by brave staff as he tried to rob a lettings agency.

Jailing him, Judge Jeremy Roberts, QC, told Fasida: "Some of these offences are very serious because of the fear you created in the victims.

'However, I accept that you are a pleasant and decent young man when not under the influence of drugs, and that your remorse is genuine.

'I am quite sure that you are capable of leading an honest and decent life in the future.'

The court heard that Fasida struck on two occasions after travelling to London from his home at Colwall Court, Pages Avenue, Bexhill.

On January 6 this year, he went to Battersea, south west London, and held up Vino Wines off licence in Este Road and then the Chelsea Reach pub.

He then headed for east London where he targeted a branch of Greggs bakery.

In total, Fasida pocketed more than 800 from the robbery spree.

Two days later, he tried to hold up a lettings agency in South Lambeth and steal a laptop computer but was seized by staff.

Two mobile phones and a pair of earrings from the flat upstairs were hidden in his jumper.

Prosecutor Owen Williams said: "It was clear he had stolen them, because he had been in that flat earlier that day and had pretended to be there to work on the electrics."

Gerry Mohabir, defending, said Fasida had committed all of the crimes to fund his spiralling drug habit.

He told the court: "This defendant has three children, and he wants to be part of their lives because drugs have ravaged him and he has missed bringing them up.'"

Fasida pleaded guilty to two robberies, burglary, and having an imitation firearm.

He also admitted a charge of aggravated vehicle taking on June 10 last year, and asked for three other robbery charges to be taken into consideration.