Police have welcomed the six-year jail sentence handed to Rudi Batten this week for the two robberies committed in Yate in February.

Rudi Batten, 22, entered Miss Millie's in Yate Shopping Centre on the evening of Sunday, February 7 in possession of a firearm, which unknown to people inside turned out to be an imitation. He threatened staff and stole cash and fried chicken before fleeing the premises.

The following morning he targeted McDonald's Yate, held an imitation gun to the managers head whilst he emptied the safe and then demanded a double sausage McMuffin before he fled on a moped.

No injuries were reported in either incident.

A huge manhunt was launched before Batten was arrested by police later on Monday, February 8 after he handed himself in.

A search of his home address, in Station Road, was carried out and officers found the weapon, cash, clothes matching the offender’s description and food wrappers.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts relating to possessing an imitation firearm and one count of having an article with a blade or point in a public place. He was jailed for a total of six years at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday.

DC Katie Wright said: “Rudi Batten committed two robberies with no thought for the innocent people working in those premises.

“We welcome the custodial sentence handed to him and want to reassure the public that we will continue to deal with these types of offences in a robust way, and swiftly bringing offenders to justice.”