St Leonards thief Alan Slattery targeted Hastings and Eastbourne banks

Alan Slattery gave a written note to the cashier demanding they hand over money.

But the message was too hard to read and the 67-year-old left empty handed.

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He went on to raid a further two banks using the same method - making off on a bus with £2,400.

Alan Slattery used written notes to ask the cashiers to hand over money

The pensioner was caught on CCTV and eventually tracked down by his bus pass.

He appeared at Lewes Crown Court where he admitted robbery and attempted robbery and was jailed for six years.

Speaking after the case, investigating officer detective constable Jay Fair said: “These incidents caused fear and distress to both the employees working in the banks, and to the wider public.

“I’d like to thank all the victims and witnesses who supported our investigation, and I’m pleased to see the severity of the offences reflected in the sentence handed out by the court.”

Alan Slattery was handed a six-year extended sentence at Lewes Crown Court

Slattery entered three banks in Hastings and Eastbourne in the space of two weeks, handing over sticky labels on which he had written threats.

On March 18, he went into Nationwide Building Society in Terminus Road, Eastbourne, with a note which staff were unable to read.

After he left, they managed to decipher his message: "Your screen won’t stop what I’ve got, just hand over the 10s and the 20s.

"Think about the other customers."

His first attempt, on March 18 at Nationwide Building Society in Terminus Road, Eastbourne, was foiled due to poor handwriting.

The police were called to the scene and seized the note as well as CCTV footage from inside the bank.

Alan Slattery was handed a six-year extended sentence at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, July 16

On March 26, Slattery entered the Nationwide Building Society branch in London Road, St Leonards, and handed a threatening note to the cashier.

Fearing for her safety, she handed over cash to Slattery who fled the scene, boarding a bus moments after the robbery.

Officers spoke to the bus company and identified Slattery from the picture on his bus pass, which matched the bank’s CCTV.

However, before he went to the Natwest bank in Havelock Road, Hastings, with another note.

The raid on April 1 was unsuccessful as he was challenged by the cashier and left the bank empty-handed.

Police were alerted with officers attending the last known address for Slattery.

He was seen walking nearby and was arrested on suspicion of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.

A search of his address found some sticky labels identical to those handed to bank staff as well as a jacket that was seen in CCTV footage.

Slattery pleaded guilty to all three offences and was given a six-year extended sentence at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, July 16, comprising of four years in custody and two years on licence.