A former BMW worker has been jailed for five years for robbing betting shops with a replica gun.

Michael Morris 34, of Jane Seaman Court, Greater Leys, Oxford, admitted two charges of robbery and one count of theft at the city's crown court on Monday, October 14.

Morris demanded cash from female cashiers in betting shops during February and May this year.

He carried an object resembling a gun on two occasions.

The court heard that Morris worked at the BMW Mini factory at Cowley for nine months before being made redundant at the end of last year.

He was unable to pay his rent and lost his home.

Roderick Hine, defending, said Morris, who has previous convictions for shoplifting, was remorseful.

Morris had been undergoing treatment for a drug and alcohol problem when one of his best friends was murdered, said Mr Hine.

He had tried to tell police he had information, but they turned him away and the suspect had since disappeared.

Mr Hine said that after this, Morris turned to heroin again.

Sentencing Morris, Judge Julian Hall said: "You carried with you something that you knew would appear to be a gun.

"You did that deliberately to frighten people.

"Your victims were very frightened indeed."

Morris was given a 12-month prison sentence for theft and two five-year sentences for robbery, to run concurrently.