'A sustained campaign of crime': Dangerous Leeds robber given extended prison sentence for series of knifepoint robberies

Martin Kaczmarek was told by a judge he posed a serious danger to the public as he was sentenced for robberies which included targeting a Greggs bakers, a charity shop and a beauty salon.Kaczmarek pleaded guilty to five offences of robbery, three of attempted robbery and eight offences of possessing a bladed article.

Leeds Crown Court heard victims suffered physical and psychological injuries during the incident which took place between February and April this year.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said the first robbery offence took place at Westrow Hairdressers, Otley Road, Headingley, on February 6.

Kaczmarek was wearing a ski hat and had his face covered with a scarf when he entered the premises and threatened a member of staff..

He held a ten-inch kitchen knife close to her face and demanded money from the till.

The defendant then left with two £10 notes.

Miss Pearson said: "She was left terrified by the whole incident and was shaken and disturbed and scared throughout."

The second offence took place at a Greggs bakery on Kirkstall Road on February 22.

Kaczmarek threatened staff with a knife before leaving with a large amount of cash from the till.

Staff and customers were terrified during a robbery at Spa Adelena Hair & Beauty, on Town Street, Rodley, on February 25.

Miss Pearson said Kaczmarek was wearing a scarf and ski googles when he entered the premises and told a staff member: "Get the f****** till open."

The woman told the defendant that there was no money and showed him an empty cash box.

Kaczmarek followed one of the beauticians into a back room and ordered her to empty cash from her purse into his hand.

Another member of staff rang police and the defendant ran off.

A customer aged in her sixties was barged to the ground during the incident.

Miss Pearson said the woman had a pre-existing back problem which was made worse by the fall.

Kaczmarek targeted the Cats Protection charity shop in Headingley on February 26 and terrified a student who was working there as a volunteer.

She was threatened with a knife before the robber left with between £50 and £100 in cash.

The young woman suffered a seizure after the incident which is thought to have been brought on by her ordeal.

Kaczmarek went on to target shops in east Leeds during April.

A shop assistant at A1 News, Manston Approach, Manston, was threatened with a knife on April 2 before he left with £200 from the till.

He returned to the same store on April 5 but a the male shopkeeper refused his demands for cash

Kaczmarek left when a customer entered the store and the shopkeeper chased after him.

He targeted the Londis store, on Woodland Hill, Whitkirk, later the same day.

He threatened staff with a knife but left when they refused to hand over money.

Hours later Kaczmarek was chased away when he tried to commit a robbery at Stop Press newsagents, Station Road, Cross Gates.

Police recognised the 48-year-old from CCTV footage and arrested him at his home the next day.

As he was arrested he told officers: "I'm glad you are here. There were three stores on Sunday. I was starving hungry.

"I was going to hand myself in."

Kaczmarek has previous convictions for robbery and burglary.

He was jailed in 2010 over a similar spate of robberies in which small businesses in the student area of Headingley were targeted.

A probation service report described Kaczmarek as posing a high risk to the public through committing serious offences in the future.

Satpal Roth-Sharma, mitigating, said the offences were linked to drug abuse.

She added: "He wants to break from from this depressing cycle and feels better when he is in prison. He now feels institutionalised.

"He has expressed remorse for the victims."

Kaczmarek was given an extended prison sentence of 14 years and four months.

He must serve a custodial term of nine years, four months, followed by a further five-year period on licence.

Detective Inspector Richard Holmes, of Leeds District CID, said after the sace: “Kaczmarek was responsible for a sustained campaign of crime during which he targeted shops across Leeds over a two month period.

“The victims were confronted at knifepoint in what were clearly very disturbing and upsetting experiences for them.

“He was identified and brought to justice after a thorough and comprehensive investigation that linked him to the offences.

“We hope the significant sentence he has received will provide suitable reassurance to the victims and to the wider communities where these offences occurred.”