A gunman who terrified staff during two city centre bank robberies has been jailed for six years.

Cashiers at the Nationwide and Yorkshire Bank, both in Horsefair Street, feared they could be shot when Brian Kemp pointed a pistol at them and demanded cash.

He had wrapped a carrier bag around the weapon – which turned out to be a toy – causing the victims to believe it was real.

• CCTV footage released by Leicestershire police after Brian Kemp was jailed at Leicester Crown Court.

During one of the raids, Kemp told his victim: "I'm sorry, I'm not a bad person."

Kemp, who escaped with hauls totalling more than £9,000, claimed he gave a substantial amount to a homeless man and mislaid more after hiding it in a bin.

Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Lynn Tayton QC said: "Albeit it was a child's gun, it appeared real to those who were there. They were in fear of their lives.

"For various reasons, you didn't see a lot of that money and you weren't using it to fund a lavish lifestyle."

Kemp, of Portmore Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, admitted a £2,475 robbery at the Nationwide, on August 30, and robbery of £6,960 from the Yorkshire Bank, on September 27, while possessing an imitation firearm.

Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said victims suffered anxiety, sleepless nights and flashbacks afterwards.

The first raid was at 4.50pm. Kemp told a woman cashier at the Nationwide: "Don't do anything, I have a gun."

Miss Rose said: "It looked as if a gun barrel was pointing at her through the hole in the glass. It was a gun-shaped object wrapped in plastic.

"She handed the bank notes to the defendant."

Four weeks later, Kemp went to the Yorkshire Bank at 1pm, where the manager, helping with cashier duties, noticed a gun-shaped object being pointed at him.

The robber said: "Give me all your cash." CCTV showed that, at one stage, he pointed the weapon at an elderly customer with a walking stick and a second member of staff.

Kemp, in between demanding more money, kept saying he was not a bad guy, he was sorry and desperate.

He was arrested after CCTV footage of the second raid was circulated among police officers.

A city centre officer recognised Kemp as someone he had had dealings with a day or two earlier.

Police seized the orange and black plastic child's gun used in the raid from Kemp's home, along with £1,545 in cash, which was confiscated to compensate the banks.

Catherine Chasemore, in mitigation, said: "The offences weren't sophisticated or professional.

"He gave a significant amount of the money to a homeless man and he left the majority on a bin. It was stolen overnight."

She said Kemp was "extremely drunk" during the raids and that he apologised.

The court was told that in 1993 he was jailed for 14 years for drugs offences. Afterwards, Det Con Rob Buckley said: "Thanks to an observant officer, we were able to identify the offender and quickly bring him to justice.

"These were serious offences carried out in daylight in front of members of the public.

"The offender had no regard for the effect it may have had on all those involved."