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A masked robber has been jailed after he held up three businesses at knifepoint in the space of an hour.

Simon Landucci terrified staff at a filling station in Torbay and a restaurant and shop in Teignmouth when he demanded cash while brandishing a large kitchen knife.

He was wearing a balaclava, hat and sunglasses and escaped with a total of just over £1,000 from the three raids, including cash from a charity collecting tin which he snatched.

The robberies were at the Watcombe Filling Station, the Golden Crown takeaway in Teignmouth, and the Spar shop in Higher Coombe Road, Teignmouth.

Landucci was spotted as he drove out of Teignmouth and was chased by police into a cul-de-sac where he was arrested with all of the stolen money.

His life had spiralled out of control after the death of his wife two years before and he was desperate for money to look after other members of his family.

He was expecting to be jailed after being stopped a few days earlier for driving his BMW while disqualified and felt he had nothing to lose.

Landucci, aged 38, of Camden Road, Torquay, admitted three counts of robbery, possessing a knife in a public place, and a new offence of driving while disqualified.

He was jailed for a total of four years by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court, who ordered that all the stolen money be returned to its owners.

He told him:"These were three robberies at knifepoint. I am willing to sentence you on the basis that what you did than night was out of character. You may have been in a state of desperation but were also under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

"These were serious offences, there was some planning and an element of disguise. You were armed with a knife and produced that knife to rob three separate establishments.

"In each of these three places the people who were robbed were terrified, and understandably so. It has had a considerable effect on them."

Mr William Hunter, prosecuting, said the first robbery took place at the Watcombe Filling Station, Torquay, where assistant Tomasz Sedzimar was working alone.

Mr Hunter said:"The robber wore gloves, a hat, sunglasses and a balaclava and had a kitchen knife. He said 'this is a robbery, give me your money, don't f*** with me. He took £200 and a collection box for the Lucy charity which contained £67.77'."

Landucci then drove to Teignmouth where he held up the Golden Crown takeaway, where Chloe Driscoll was working on her own and handed over £140.

He moved straight on to the Spar shop where he threatened workers Lisa Cole and Hazel Robinson with the knife before emptying two tills and escaping with £600. He told them:"Give me your money, ladies."

The police were already looking for his car and tried to stop him. He drove into a dead end street off Exeter Road. He told the police 'I've been a silly boy, I'm just trying to look after his family'.

Mr Joss Ticehurst, defending, said Landucci's life had fallen apart after his wife died in tragic circumstances two years ago.

He feared he was about to be sent to jail after being caught driving while disqualified in Torbay in September and was desperate to raise money for his family.