AN open prison inmate has been locked up indefinitely after carrying out a series of robberies on weekend leave.
Eithan Teanby, 41, was serving a sentence for wounding and assault at HMP North Sea Camp in Boston when he was granted leave on May 18 last year.
He was due to return on Monday, May 21, but never did, Nottingham Crown Court heard yesterday.
He went on to rob a post office in Scunthorpe and then attempted to rob a branch of Santander in Clumber Street in Nottingham city centre. He also robbed a branch of Halifax in Bulwell.
Judge Michael Stokes locked him up for public projection and ordered he serve a minimum of seven years before parole was considered.
He said Teanby went "out of control" when he attacked staff at East Common Lane Post Office, Scunthorpe, slashing postmaster Peter Smith and his wife, Hilary, with a knife. Assistant Sue Smith, banged her head and suffered an eye injury.
Jon Fountain, prosecuting, said Teanby shouted he wanted money and would kill the staff if they did not turn off the panic alarm. He escaped with £2,560 but left behind his fingerprints and his jacket.
Judge Stokes awarded the Smiths £500 each from public funds for their "courage" and "valour".
"It must have been terrifying for all three of them to undergo this experience," he said.
Teanby tried to rob the Clumber Street Santander on May 29. He said to a cashier "give me all your money from the till", but she refused.
He indicated that he had a gun and threatened to "smash her face in".
Mr Fountain said: "She asked him, 'are you being serious?' and he confirmed he was."
She called out to her manager that Teanby was threatening her and he fled empty-handed.
Teanby went on to rob Halifax, in Commercial Road, Bulwell, after leaping on to the counter with a ten -inch knife in his hand on May 30, 2012. He told a cashier "do as I say...no one will get hurt" and reached into the till and grabbed £2,000. He was arrested on June 2.
He admitted two robberies, one attempted robbery and two charges of possessing a knife.
He later said he committed the offences because he owed a debt to a fellow prisoner.
After the hearing, Detective Constable Adam Cooper said: "Teanby was a violent and prolific criminal who wasn't deterred from committing further crimes by the fact he was wanted by two different police forces. He brazenly targeted both the Post Office and the banks in broad daylight and in one case waited in line, posing as a customer, before seizing his moment. However, his short-lived crime spree ended when an eagle-eyed officer saw him loitering around the city centre and arrested him."
