THE 22-year-old man who held an imitation gun to the head of staff member in McDonald’s in Yate, has been jailed for six years.

Rudi Batten - who fled the restaurant with cash and a double sausage McMuffin - was sentenced at Bristol Crown court today.

Rudi Batten, of Station Road Yate was sentenced to six years in prison at Bristol Crown Court following the robberies of two fast food outlets in Yate on February 7 and 8.

The court heard witness statements from traumatised staff from both restaurants as well as schools on the Ridge.

Mr Batten, pleaded guilty on March 22 on two counts of robbery, two counts of having an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and one count of possessing a knife or blade in a public place.

He had been held on conditional bail until the sentencing.

Batten robbed Miss Millie’s in Yate Shopping Centre at around 6pm on the evening of Sunday, February 7 and left with around £200 in cash.

The following morning he then targeted the McDonald’s restaurant also in the shopping centre at 7am where he held an imitation gun to a staff member's head whilst he was forced to empty the safe.

Batten made off on a moped with a quantity of cash and a breakfast McMuffin.

Armed police then conducted a man hunt with NPAS helicopter assistance in the air.

Batten handed himself in to Patchway police station on the advise of a friend later at around 3pm that day.

At the time Det Insp Dan Rowan said: “Thankfully incidents of this nature are rare but we appreciate the community will have understandable concerns about what has happened and additional patrols are being carried out.”

A full court report from today to follow.