A man will spend 12 years behind bars after robbing three pharmacies at knifepoint. Michael Youssefi, 42, of Seven Acre Close in St Leonards, first robbed Day Lewis Pharmacy on May 9, 2022. He went into the chemist in Mount Pleasant Road, Hastings with his face covered and threatened a pharmacist with a large kitchen knife.
He told her to give him Oxycontin and in response to the threat of violence, he was handed the controlled drug and quickly left. READ MORE: Man charged with murder after teenager killed at train station Officers then attended the scene and found blood, which was sent off for forensic testing. Three days later, on May 12, Youssefi was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery after his description matched witness accounts.
He denied involvement and was bailed while other enquiries continued. Youssefi was then charged with robbery and possession of a knife in a public place on February 28 after the blood left at the scene was linked to him and all other enquiries had been completed. On April 24 at Lewes Crown Court Youssefi pleaded guilty to the offences.
He was then bailed from court to wait for sentencing. While on bail, Youssefi committed a robbery and an attempted robbery on April 27. The first took place at around 9am when he entered Boots in Eastbourne Road, Pevensey, and forced his way into the dispensing area while armed with a knife.
He was unable to find what he wanted and ran from the premises after a witness intervened. Later that day, at around 4.3.