A dangerous knife-wielding robber who terrified shop staff while wearing a Batman mask has been jailed for more than 11 years.

Under an extended sentence for public protection, Paul Godden will not be considered for release until he has served two thirds of the term.

He will be on licence for a further five years after the full 11 years and four months imposed has expired.

The 35-year-old convicted robber wore the superhero's disguise while raiding Martin McColl newsagents in Luton High Street, Chatham.

He robbed a Co-op in Wayfield Road in the town less than four hours later, making off with £2,500 after threatening to stab a young shop assistant.

One of Godden's victims at the Coop, Kristina Dennis, bravely went into the witness box at the sentencing hearing today to face him and declare how deeply affected she had been.

"I do go to church, but I find it very hard to forgive," she said. "That’s why I wanted to come to court, because I wanted closure."

Godden, of Stanley Road, Gillingham, had denied robbery and attempted robbery but changed his pleas after his trial began last month.

"He may have felt powerful at the time of the incidents, but he is now facing the harsh reality of his crime and spending years behind bars" - Det Con James Chichester

Maidstone Crown Court heard Sarah Bushell was working alone just before 5.45pm on August 11 last year when she was confronted by the masked raider.

A man she had seen wearing his hood up and lurking outside came in and placed a bag and a knife with a 6in blade on the counter.

The victim told police she was “extremely shocked” to see the Batman mask, but managed to push her panic button when he demanded cash.

CCTV footage showed Godden jumping over the counter as Mrs Bushell fled to the front door and shouted that the store was being robbed. He fled empty-handed.

In the second raid at the Co-op at about 9.15pm, Liam Dalton, who had only been working there for four weeks, looked up to see Godden, who was hooded and wearing Marigold gloves and a blue Gillingham FC scarf over his face.

He waved two kitchen knives in front of Mr Dalton as he demanded money be placed into a drawstring bag.

Store manager Kristina Dennis appeared from the downstairs office. When she approached Godden he threatened: “If you try anything I will stick one of these into his ribs.”

Having taken cash, cigarettes and tobacco, he frogmarched Mr Dalton and Ms Dennis at knifepoint to the safe and took bags of coins.

As he left he warned: “Don’t try any funny business.”

After sentencing, Detective Constable James Chichester said: "Godden put his victims through a terrifying ordeal, threatening them with a knife while demanding they hand over cash.

"He may have felt powerful at the time of the incidents, but he is now facing the harsh reality of his crime and spending years behind bars.

"Godden may have attempted to disguise his identify by wearing a mask, but eagle-eyed officers swept in when they spotted him in Gillingham.

"However, the true heroes in this case are the victims, one of whom was subjected to giving evidence in court after Godden continued to deny any responsibility for his actions.

"Godden changed his pleas to guilty after hearing the substantial amount of evidence detectives had built up against him.

"The police's work to identify suspects and bring offenders to justice will not stop; we will continue to work hard to keep our communities safe."