A robber stole a car from a home in Dovercourt while on the run after turning over a bookmakers.

Nathan Dobkin, of Agincourt Road, Clacton, broke into a house in Freshfields, Dovercourt, on June 16 2011 and stole car keys and an Audi.

On May 11 last year Dobkin stole £2,200 from Ladbrokes, in Old Road, Clacton after threatening staff with ‘gun’ - but actually turned out to be part of an old fishing rod made to look like a firearm.

Dobkin was jailed for nine years by Judge Rodger Hayward Smith QC at Chelmsford Crown Court last week.

Mr Smith said: “It must have been terrifying for the staff, people do not get over this sort of thing very easily.”