A robber, who was wrestled to the ground by four have-a-go heroes after raiding a Petts Wood bank armed with a coat hanger, has been jailed for 11 years.

Marlon Noble, 35, entered Lloyds Bank in Station Square on New Year's Eve last year brandishing a coat hanger wrapped in carrier bags, shaped like a gun, the Old Bailey heard.

With a hood pulled up over his head and a grey scarf wrapped around his face, Noble pointed his homemade ‘weapon’ at staff, who handed over £1,964 in cash, the court was told.

Prosecutor William Eaglestone told the court on Friday (June 19) during a Newton hearing held to establish the full facts of the case, Noble was chased and detained by members of the public including a father fearing for the life of his nine-year-old son.

Police arrived and arrested Noble, a dad-of-two, and recovered his 'weapon', the court heard.

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Police at the scene in Station Square, Petts Wood

Noble, of Oaklands Place, Clapham, stole £12,500 during seven robberies at a number of banks across London.

He raided the same Lloyds Bank in Clapham, which is just a three-minute walk from his home, four times.

Noble pleaded guilty on May 5 to seven robberies, an attempted robbery, and seven counts of possessing an imitation firearm.

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Andrew Selby, mitigating, described Noble's offences as "wholly out of character".

He told the court: "He [Noble] was in financial difficulty having borrowed money from a loan shark.

"The amount of money increased more and more. He borrowed money to pay off debt due to an inability to work.

"He borrowed money to support his family and that borrowing escalated."

Mr Selby also told the court Noble had been taking medication for depression at the time of the offences and had a history of mental illness.

Giving evidence on Friday, Noble told the court: "I did point it [the weapon] at a few people, which I am sorry for. I never threatened to shoot anybody.

"I was in a desperate situation and I just wanted to get out of it as quickly as possible. I just wanted to get money, I was in a desperate position.

"I wanted it to look like a gun but it was just a coat hanger."

Recorder Tony Badenoch sentenced Noble to 11 years in prison for each count of robbery and attempted robbery and five years for each count of possessing an imitation firearm to be served concurrently.

Noble, dressed in a dark grey suit, bowed his head in the dock as the sentences were read out. 

He must serve half of his sentence before he is considered for release on licence.