Punter Anthony Roberts gave a clue he was planning to rob a Sandwich betting shop when he placed a bet... on a horse called “I’m A Gangster!”

Minutes later another member of the gang stormed into the bookies in Cattle Market armed with a meat cleaver demanding cash.

But brave betting shop boss Stephen Miller refused give into the threats...and made a sprint to the door to lock the robber inside.

And although the thief managed to escape, jumping into a nearby getaway car, driven by Roberts its number was noted.

Roberts, 23, formerly of Canute Road, Deal and now High Street, Dover, was convicted by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court of attempted robbery and then jailed for three years.

The judge heard that although he had denied the offence during the trial he has now admitted to being part of the three-man gang which planned the botched raid in February last year.

Prosecutor Alastair Walker said bookie Mr Miller thought it odd when Roberts placed a £2 bet on the horse which would have landed him just a ”few pounds” had it won.

He told the jury that Roberts had been sent into the Sandwich Turf Accountants to “case the joint”.

A few minutes later a masked man burst into the shop wielding the cleaver and demanding cash.

But the court heard that Mr Miller “refused to be intimidated” and ran towards the front door to lock it.

“You still complain just how unfair it is that you were arrested and put on trial... because you were only the driver of the vehicle!” - Judge Adele Williams

Mr Walker said there was a scuffle and the robber managed to get away and jump into the car driven by Roberts – but passers-by noted the number.

Mr Dunn, said Roberts now “accepts his responsibility” and has revealed there were two others in the gang.

“He sits in the dock but it was the second man who went into the turf accountants and wielded the meat cleaver. This second man has entirely evaded the consequences of his actions.

“Roberts has a son and is clearly besotted with him. Through his own stupidity he is now not going to be part of his life for a while. He takes that very, very heavily."

Judge Adele Williams told him: “The betting shop you raided was a small business and one, in my judgement, that you had targeted because it was small.

“Your part was to go in and view the security. You did that whilst placing a small bet on a horse to disguise your purpose. You were also the getaway driver.”

The judge praised Mr Miller’s “quick wits and courage” in foiling the raid despite being “very frightened indeed”.

Judge Williams told Roberts he showed no insight to what he had done; adding:

“You still complain just how unfair it is that you were arrested and put on trial... because you were only the driver of the vehicle!”