Armed robber Kyle Hatfield will never forget his 23rd birthday - he was jailed for eight years.
It was the price he paid for a prolific crime spree over four months this year.
Between January and April, Hatfield targeted a number of local convenience stores across the Blackley area of north Manchester, carrying out six raids.
He threatened staff while brandishing large machetes and demanded a quantity of cash, cigarettes and alcohol, police said.
On one occasion, Hatfield shouted at a shop assistant and threatened to take her life, before raiding the tills and making off with a significant amount of cash.
During another incident, Hatfield attacked another shop assistant and ran off with contents from the till.
'No one should have to endure such an ordeal while simply trying to earn an honest living' - Chief Insp Pye
Hatfield, of Chain Road, Blackley, was sentenced on Thursday, July 4, at Manchester Crown Court to eight years in prison.
He previously pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery, five counts of possessing an offensive weapon and one count of theft.
Chief Inspector Denise Pye, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: "Hatfield will have to spend the next eight years behind bars, without his freedom and reflecting on his actions.
“No one should have to endure such an ordeal while simply trying to earn an honest living and we should not underestimate the impact that these kinds of crimes can have on innocent members of the public and our hardworking communities.
“We will not tolerate this kind of criminality in our city and I hope today’s sentence makes it crystal clear to those thinking about committing similar offences – you will be found, you will be arrested and you will be brought to justice.”
