All of the cash was recovered from the loft space of Walker’s next door neighbour – a house that he had a key for.

Mr Lester said: “A taxi driver and a bank customer witnessed the attack on the driver. The offender pulled out a two-foot wooden stick from his right sleeve and struck the leg of the driver from behind. The stick snapped, the cashbox was snatched and the offender was witnessed running into a house further down the road.

“When officers arrived Mr Walker came out of his home and said ‘don’t put my neighbour’s door in, I will tell you where the cash box is’.

“He took officers into the house, which he had a key for, and directed them to the cash box in the loft space. He also told officers which trainers he had been wearing and that he had used a T-shirt to cover his face, not a balaclava.”

Raglan Ashton, defending, said: “Although serious, this robbery was somewhat incompetent. It was a spur of the moment decision and was always going to be detected by police within a matter of minutes.

“He is appalled by his actions and he has shown genuine remorse. He held his hands up at the very outset. He admits that he has been stupid and he is sorry.

“He was a council grass cutter before he lost the job that he loved.

“He did not come armed with a weapon, he picked up a stick. He was not working and he simply had no money.”