AN armed robber who targeted a Whitefield restaurant and a Prestwich post office has been jailed for nearly 15 years.

Williams Davies (40), used a knife in both raids, threatening to harm staff and members of the public.

Bolton Crown Court was told that on the afternoon of October 13 last year, Davies entered the McDonald's restaurant in Bury New Road, Whitefield, with a six-inch knife.

Mr Paul McDonald, prosecuting, said: "Very calmly and collectively the defendant produced a bag and demanded the 16-year-old cashier fill it with money. When the assistant manager came onto the scene, he directed him to empty all the tills and added he had a gun in his pocket and was not afraid to use it."

The staff complied with the request and twice the defendant pushed the side of the knife into the manager's back.

They filled the bags with money and handed it to the defendant who calmly walked out with £614.96, leaving the seven members of staff very shaken.

On November 4, Davies, from Salford, went into the Sedgley Park post office on Bury New Road, as the sub postmaster was serving two 14-year-old boys. He pulled out a knife from his jacket and demanded money.

The sub-postmaster pushed the panic alarm button but the defendant told him that if he did not give him the money the two boys would get hurt. But the alarm sounding panicked the defendant, and he ran off empty-handed.

At a previous hearing, Davies pleaded guilty to the robbery and attempted robbery, and also admitted armed robberies at McDonald's restaurants in Newton Heath, where he stole £683, and Reddish, where he made off with £250.

Davies was arrested in York on November 10 after police recognised him from CCTV footage. When police searched his house, they found a hat and jacket similar to those used in the robberies.

Prior to the offences, Davies had been serving 10 years for robbery and firearm offences and had been released on licence six months previously in April 2004.

The court was told that on Davies's release, he was presented with £2,000 by an acquaintance, which Davies thought was a gift, but turned out to be a loan. When Davies realised the money had to be paid back, he went on the robbery spree.

Mr Mike Johnson, defending, said: "No one was hurt and the defendant realises that these are serious matters. Staff had been very frightened by what occurred and accepts that. But I think it is clear to see that no-one sustained physical injuries.

"He acted alone and never intended to harm anybody and if he had been met with any resistance, he would have fled. In Sedgley Park, the postmaster pushed the panic alarm and the defendant did just that he fled from the scene."

Passing sentence, Judge William Morris told Davies: "The four offences were committed by you alone and you produced a knife to threaten people and obtain money. The production of the knife was very dangerous. a member of the public might have bravely tried to disarm you to stop you committing an offence. And it is in this situation that people might have been injured.

"I accept that you feel real regret, you explained your motive by the fact that when you were last released from prison your were given £2,000 by a criminal which you thought was a gift, but it was a loan, and so committed the offences."

Davies was sentenced to 12 years for the four offences, but an extra two years and nine months were ordered to be served for previous offences on which he was released on licence.