A BANK robber has been jailed for eight years for stealing £18,000 from a city centre bank.
Lee Eskrett, 47, walked into Yorkshire Bank in Prospect Centre, Hull city centre, on Saturday, April 26, and demanded money after claiming he had a gun.
He put his hand in a bag, pointing it as though it held a gun.
Staff initially laughed, thinking it was a prank, but Eskrett said: "I'm serious. Give me all the money."
A female member of staff then began counting notes out, and Eskrett, a prolific robber, was able to walk out "calmly" with £18,000.
The terrified woman did not know Eskrett was unarmed and collapsed to her knees in tears.
Police were called and were quickly on the scene.
Although Eskrett had taken refuge in a toilet, he gave himself away when he came out by quickly changing direction when he came across a police officer.
Eskrett was arrested in the shopping centre and told police: "It's really tough out there. I got made to do it."
Hull Crown Court heard he had a record for robbery for which he was serving increasingly longer sentences.
Eskrett's previous robbery convictions included him being jailed for three months in 1998, for six years in 2000 and for seven years in 2007.
He had also served a 45-month sentence for stealing a chain from a woman.
Eskrett, of Carlton House, Anlaby Road, west Hull, initially appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court on Monday, April 28, for the Yorkshire Bank raid.
He admitted robbery at a later hearing at the Crown Court and was jailed for eight years by Judge Michael Mettyear.
