A 23-year-old man who held up a bookies with a banana escaped a life sentence because his crime was "as farcical as it comes".

Robert Downey, of Melville Court, Chatham, was jailed for six years after threatening two bookmakers while clutching the fruit inside a carrier bag.

But staff were so convinced the raider was harmless they refused to hand over a penny.

He was arrested in a nearby street after ditching his disguise and his weapon, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Patrick Cahill said: "There were two members of staff serving in the shop, both of whom were behind a security screen.

"The suspect ran inside, wearing a balaclava and a scarf covering most of his face.

"He approached the counter, shouting: 'I want the money or I'll shoot you'."

Both members of staff, saw that he was carrying a blue plastic carrier bag that contained a gun-shaped object.

The staff at William Claridge bookies looked at the object Downey was shoving under the security screen and realised it was strangely 'bent'.

One of the clerks, Peter Humphrey, said: "I think this guy has actually got a banana."

Downey darted out of the shop after Mr Humphrey refused to hand over any cash and threatened to call the police.

The would-be robber was arrested in a side street nearby.

Downey pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of possessing an imitation firearm on November 24 last year.

He faced a life sentence under the two-strikes rule because he was previously jailed for six years for an armed robbery.

His barrister Rajiv Menon said his client was a harmless crack addict who needed the cash to feed his habit.

"This was as farcical and incompetent as it comes," he said. "It wasn't even a plastic gun or anything that even looks like a real gun it was a banana."

Judge Paul Dodgson agreed the case was 'exceptional' and jailed the defendant for six years with a further 296 days for committing the robbery while on parole.

He said: "By trying to rob that shop in that way and threatening those men with a banana, you put yourself at risk of an automatic life sentence."