JAYNE La Grua, defending, said that her client gave up his £60,000 a year job as a national sales manager for a distribution firm with the intention of starting a new one.

But the new job fell through.

He was separated from his wife, the mother of his two children, was living with his new partner in rented accommodation, and was effectively running two homes.

Before Christmas Grayley had debts of more than £40,000 and committed the robbery attempts because he was desperate financially.

When caught, he was in a panic, fearing he would be jailed, and produced the letters to try and stay out of prison.

Mrs La Grua stressed that the robberies were not sophisticated. She said: 'No money was obtained, no violence used, and no one actually believed that he had a gun. He had financial difficulties which led him to quite desperate measures.'