This was the extraordinary moment a robber was captured on camera.

James Roberts is fleeing from a pharmacy in River with its till in his hands.

Just earlier he had threatened to stab the store staff.

But the photograph of him getting away was passed to police and he was promptly arrested. He has now been jailed for more than three years.

Roberts, 31, has first turned up at the pharmacy on Wednesday, May 15, and asked staff for medicine.

He left the store and returned an hour later, telling staff to give him money or he would stab them.

When staff challenged him he grabbed the till, pulling it away from the wall.

Because he couldn't open the till to get the money there and then Roberts left the store carrying it with him.

It was afterwards that he was photographed by a member of the public as he tried to get away on foot. The till was found open and damaged in a nearby garden.

Roberts, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to the robbery at an earlier court hearing, and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.

Investigating officer PC Richard Glass said: "During the robbery, Roberts threatened to stab staff.

"A weapon was never seen but he still intended to make people believe he would hurt them if they didn’t do as he said and it must have been frightening for those members of staff.

"Fortunately he was seen with the till shortly after and with help from the public, officers were able to identify Roberts as the offender and he was arrested."

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