Steven Ifield was sentenced to 16 years in prison (credit: Met Police)
Steven Ifield, 52, of Park Lane, carried out the three raids across Gants Hill and Wanstead on Monday, 7 October and Thursday, 7 November 2019.
Ifield managed to steal £3,230 from one bank and £1,360 from the other, after pointing firearms at staff, demanding they give him cash.
The money was then stuffed in his coat before he fled both scenes.
During the third incident, he held a folded walking stick half concealed inside a carrier bag as if he was carrying a shotgun, also pointing at staff and demanding money.
His attempt to raid the post office was foiled when staff refused to open the till, telling him it was on a time lock.
Ifield was identified after police used CCTV from buses, shops and tube stations to trace his route and movements.
Detectives were able to place him at all three venues at the times the raids took place.
He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 30 April to 16 years in prison.
JAILED | Armed robber Steven Ifield raided two banks and a post office in Redbridge over 30 days in 2019. He pointed imitation firearms at staff, demanding cash.
He was caught after an investigation by the Flying Squad and on Friday, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/q6TaVWblqW
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 3, 2021
PC Stefen Rule, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “Ifield has a long and serious offending history, including nine previous armed robberies.
“Each one will have caused a huge amount of distress to the innocent members of staff who were targeted.
“I am pleased that he will no longer be able to pose a threat to the public.
“I hope that these convictions and the length of the sentence imposed by the court will be of some comfort to the victims and help alleviate the trauma they have experienced.”
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Tags: Gants Hill, Wanstead, Hornchurch
