An armed robber who terrified staff and customers during eight raids across Leeds has been given an extended prison sentence of more than 14 years.
Martin Kaczmarek was deemed a serious danger to the public after targeting hairdressers, a Greggs bakery, a charity shop, a beauty salon and newsagents.
The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of robbery, three counts of attempted robbery and eight counts of possessing a bladed article.
The incidents took place between February and April this year.
Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said the first robbery took place at Westrow Hairdressers, Otley Road, Headingley, on February 6.
Kaczmarek was wearing a ski hat and had his face covered with a scarf when he entered the premises and threatened a member of staff.
He held a ten-inch kitchen knife close to her face and demanded money from the till. The defendant then left with two £10 notes.
The second robbery took place at a Greggs bakery on Kirkstall Road on February 22. Kaczmarek jumped over the counter and threatened staff with a knife before grabbing cash from the till and leaving.
Kaczmarek then walked into Spa Adelena Hair & Beauty, on Town Street, Rodley, on February 25 wearing a scarf and ski googles and told a staff member: "Get the f***ing till open."
The woman told the defendant that there was no money and showed him an empty cash box.
Kaczmarek followed one of the beauticians into a back room and ordered her to empty cash from her purse into his hand.
Leeds Crown Court heard a customer aged in her sixties was barged to the ground during the incident.
Another member of staff rang police and the defendant ran off.
Kaczmarek targeted the Cats Protection charity shop in Headingley on February 26 and terrified a student who was working there as a volunteer.
She was threatened with a knife before the robber left with between £50 and £100 in cash.
The woman suffered a one-off seizure after the incident, which may have been brought on by the stress.
Kaczmarek targeted shops in east Leeds during April.
A shop assistant at A1 News, Manston Approach, Manston, was threatened with a knife on April 2 before he left with £200 from the till.
He returned to the same store on April 5 but a male shopkeeper refused his demands for cash. Kaczmarek left when a customer entered the store and the shopkeeper chased after him.
He targeted the Londis store, on Woodland Hill, Whitkirk, later the same day. He threatened staff with a knife but left when they refused to hand over money.
Hours later Kaczmarek was chased away when he tried to commit a robbery at Stop Press newsagents, Station Road, Cross Gates.
Police recognised him from CCTV footage and arrested him at his home the next day.
As he was arrested he told officers: "I'm glad you are here. There were three stores on Sunday. I was starving hungry.
"I was going to hand myself in."
Kaczmarek, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to five counts of robbery and three counts of attempted burglary.
He also admitted eight counts of possession of a bladed article in a public place in relation to each of the incidents,
The defendant has eight previous convictions for 27 offences, including for robberies and burglaries.
He was jailed in 2010 over a similar spate of robberies in which small businesses in the student area of Headingley were targeted.
Satpal Roth-Sharma, mitigating, said the offences were linked to drug abuse.
She added: "He wants to break from from this depressing cycle and feels better when he is in prison. He now feels institutionalised.
"He has expressed remorse for the victims."
Judge Rodney Jameson QC gave Kaczmarek an extended prison sentence of 14 years and four months.
It is made up of a custodial term of nine years and four months and a further five-year licence period.
Det Insp Richard Holmes, of Leeds District CID, said: "Kaczmarek was responsible for a sustained campaign of crime during which he targeted shops across Leeds over a two-month period.
"The victims were confronted at knifepoint in what were clearly very disturbing and upsetting experiences for them.
"He was identified and brought to justice after a thorough and comprehensive investigation that linked him to the offences.
"We hope the significant sentence he has received will provide suitable reassurance to the victims and to the wider communities where these offences occurred."
