A man who robbed a shop at knifepoint while wearing a dress and made off with a Rolex watch worth thousands has been jailed.
Imtiaz Patel appeared at Leicester Crown Court today (February 11) following an incident on January 5 this year in which he threatened a shop worker in Haymarket, Leicester city centre.
The 42-year-old entered the shop at 9.40am wearing a dress, a burqa and with a scarf across his face.
He was looking at a Rolex watch valued at £7,000 when staff became concerned about how he was acting.
Patel then asked to see another watch, to which a member of staff told him she would have to put the first one away.
He then produced a knife and made threats to another member of staff who was stood near the shop door before running off with the watch.
A Pc and a Pcso were on patrol in the area and saw Patel running down Church Gate.
They followed him along Mansfield Street and into Short Street and spotted the watch in his hand.
He was stopped and searched before the officers were informed about the robbery on the police radio moments later.
Patel had dropped the knife as he fled from the shop and was picked up by a member of the public and taken back to the shop.
Patel was arrested just five minutes after the robbery, at 9.45am.
He was charged the same day with robbery and possession of a bladed article.
He pleaded guilty to both charges.
Detective Constable Anna Thorpe said: "It was thanks to the quick-thinking and excellent response of the officers on patrol that Patel was detained so quickly.
"Their actions in catching Patel as he left the scene of the crime left him with no choice but to admit the offence today.
"I'd also like to thank the victims of this offence for being fully co-operative with our investigation following what must have been a terrifying incident.
"Patel showed no concern for anyone else when he carried out this crime and the consequences of his actions could have been far worse."

Patel was sentenced to four years in prison for the robbery and nine months for the possession of the bladed article.
Both sentences will run concurrently.
He was also sentenced to another two months imprisonment for breaching a community order.
Patel will serve a total of four years and two months behind bars.