A bloke who tried to rob a bank after handing a note to staff left empty-handed when they were unable to read his scrawled handwriting.
Alan Slattery, 67, from St Leonards in Hastings, has been given a six-year extended sentence after being collared for the attempted robbery.
Slattery visited three banks in Eastbourne and Hastings in the space of two weeks, where he would give cashiers notes demanding they hand over cash.
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His first attempt was on 18 March this year, when he entered a branch of Nationwide Building Society in Eastbourne.
However, he left without a penny after staff were unable to decipher the handwritten note.
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: "Staff at the bank later managed to read the note, which said, 'Your screen won't stop what I've got, just hand over the 10s and the 20s. Think about the other customers.'
"They then rang police, who attended and seized the note and CCTV footage from inside the bank."
Undeterred by his first failed attempt, the would-be bank robber visited another branch of Nationwide Building Society in St Leonards on 26 March, where he once again handed over a note demanding cash.
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This time he was given £2,400 by the terrified cashier.
While Sussex Police were still investigating the robbery, they received a call from staff at a branch of NatWest in Hastings.
The Sussex Police spokesperson said: "Staff at the bank reported a man entering the branch and handing over a threatening note demanding money.
"The cashier challenged the man, who then left empty-handed."
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Shortly after this report, cops arrested Slattery on suspicion of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.
The police spokesperson added: "A search of his address found some sticky labels identical to the label that had been handed to staff at NatWest bank, and a jacket that matched that of the man seen in CCTV from NatWest."
Appearing in court Slattery pleaded guilty to all three offences and was given a six-year extended sentence, meaning he will serve four years in jail and two on licence.
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Speaking after sentencing, 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."
Featured Image Credit: Sussex Police