A thief in Thanet who carried out two knife-point robberies in a week has been jailed for six years.
On Wednesday, 8 Wayne Cannon walked into a takeaway business in The Parade in Margate and threatened two members of staff, whilst armed with a knife. He demanded money from the till before letting himself behind the counter and stealing more than £400.
Almost a week later, on Monday, May 13, Cannon, 48, targeted a pharmacy in St Mildred’s Road, Westgate-on-Sea. Again he used a knife to threaten staff and this time demanded medication. Staff handed over the medicine before Cannon also swiped cash from the till and ran from the premises.
Cannon, of no fixed address, was identified on CCTV at the takeaway restaurant and by some of the victims at the pharmacy who had seen him before, making him the prime suspect for both robberies. He was arrested on Tuesday, May 14 and charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of possessing a knife in a public place.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court today (June 17).
Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson from Kent Police said: “Luckily Cannon’s victims were not physically harmed but violent robberies like this can have a considerable impact on people’s emotions. No one should feel unsafe because of a small minority of criminals like him.
“Residents and businesses should rest assured that we will continue to work hard, and in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, to detect and disrupt those believed to be carrying weapons and ensure anyone breaking the law is put before the courts.”
