A drug addict who carried out two terrifying raids on a pizza takeaway while masked and armed with weapons has been jailed for four years and four months.

In separate offences, Jacob Cloke, 21, also drove dangerously after stealing a car and was in possession of drugs when arrested.

Joshua Dallison, 23, who joined Cloke on the first raid at Domino’s Pizza in Chatham Hill, Chatham, was jailed for three years and three months.

Cloke, of Hayle Road, Maidstone, admitted robbery, attempted robbery, taking a car without consent, dangerous driving and possessing cocaine.

Dallison, of Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne, denied robbery, claiming he was put under duress by Cloke, but was convicted by a jury.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the pair were masked and had their hoods pulled up when they burst into the takeaway near closing time on August 28 last year.

Cloke waved a knife at manageress Amy Shell and two other staff members and threatened to climb over the counter. He warned that he would stab them, adding: “Don’t think I won’t.”

Dallison backed him up by brandishing a bat and destroying a television with it. They fled with just £180.

Cloke, formerly of Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, returned on September 2 and attempted an identical robbery with an accomplice. Amy Shell was again one of the victims.

But they were chased away by another member of staff, who was praised for his courage by Judge Julian Smith today.

Cloke was arrested but while on bail he on November 30 took a BMW car and drove dangerously at high speed in Watling Street, Gillingham, and other roads without a licence and insurance.

The car was left abandoned. When arrested, he had seven wraps of cocaine on him.

Judge Smith said although there was no actual violence during the robbery, the threats made by Cloke were unpleasant.

“You are clearly a heavy user of drugsand that drives much of your offending,” the judge told him. “As you will understand a substantial sentence of imprisonment must be imposed.”

Dallison’s claim that his will was not his own, he said, in committing the robbery was not accepted by the jury.

“They were sure you acted of your own choice and you were a full participant,” he continued. “I accept there is a vulnerability about you.”

Cloke was sentenced to three years and eight months for the robbery offences and eight months consecutive for the others.

Alexia Zimbler, for Dallison, said her client was effectively Cloke’s “wing man” for the robbery.

“This is a young man who can’t live independently,” she said. “He has to be in a hostel where there is 24-hour support. His past still affects him. He needs to seek proper assistance.”

After the hearing, Detective Constable Gavin Humphrey said: "To be the victim of one robbery is distressing enough, just a few days later the outlet was victim again and the same members of staff were subjected to extremely threatening behaviour, aggravated by the possession of weapons.

"Having committed the offences, Cloke sought to cover his tracks by asking people to falsely claim they were with him elsewhere.

"Fortunately these people were not willing to commit a criminal offence on his behalf and we have been able to put them behind bars."