The son of a prolific armed robber has been sent to prison for five years after taking inspiration from his father.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Jamie Hood, 21, was in a series of care and foster homes from the age of one, after his father was sent to prison for more than 13 years because of a series of robberies at banks, post offices and building societies in the 1980s and 90s.

He left education at the age of 15 with no qualifications, but later managed to achieve a qualification in engineering.

Hood served 12 months, reduced to eight, in a youth detention centre after the attempted armed robbery of a bookmakers in 2014.

Richard Conley, mitigating, said: “At around the age of 17 there was an attempt by his father to re-establish a relationship with him.

“Although he had never had any sort of relationship he fell for his charm.

“And, while he accepts it was a foolish illusion, he did in some way idolise him and that really explains the conviction for an attempted robbery.

“He very quickly learned a life in custody was not for him.”

After this first conviction, Hood was sent back to a youth detention centre after failing to comply with a related order twice.

This was followed by a series of offences in the three years which followed, including shoplifting, burglary and criminal damage.

For his latest crimes of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs he was sentenced to five years in prison.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC, sentencing, said: “It’s a large leap on your previous offending.

“This puts you well on the path of following in your father’s footsteps. You have made the transition here to serious crime.”