A man who threatened staff at a Basildon pharmacy with a syringe has been locked up.

Keith Weights, of Innes Close, Wickford, entered Allcures Pharmacy on Whitmore Way, armed with a syringe just before 5.30pm on October 29, 2015.

He threatened staff with it and demanded that they give him some Diazepam - a tranquillizing muscle-relaxant drug used to relieve anxiety.

However he didn't realise that a shop worker had managed to call police unnoticed.

Weights fled from the pharmacy, grabbing a coat belonging to a member of staff as he went.

The 40-year-old ran into Basildon town centre where he was found collapsed in a shop wearing the coat belonging to the member of staff.

Weights was arrested and later charged with possession of an offensive weapon and robbery.

He pleaded guilty both offences and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Monday. 

He was jailed for 34 months for robbery and three months for possession of an offensive weapon in a public place to run concurrently.

His total prison sentence will last for two years and ten months.