A man who threatened staff with a knife in pharmacies in East Sussex and stole medicines has been jailed for 12 years.

Michael Youssefi (pictured), 42, of Seven Acre Close in St Leonards, was sentenced at Hastings Crown Court this month having pleaded guilty in June to robbery, attempted robbery and possession of a knife in a public place in three pharmacies. 

His crimes took place in Day Lewis, Boots and Kamsons pharmacies. On May 9, 2022, he entered the Day Lewis branch on Mount Pleasant Road, Hastings, with his face covered, threatened a pharmacist with a large kitchen knife and demanded she give him Oxycontin.

Fearing for their safety, staff gave him the controlled drug and he fled the pharmacy. When police arrived, they found blood which was sent for forensic testing and Youssefi was arrested three days later on suspicion of armed robbery.

Sussex Police said his description matched witness accounts but he denied any involvement and was bailed while investigations continued. He was eventually charged with robbery and possession of a knife in a public place on February 28, 2024.

After pleading guilty to the offences at Lewes Crown Court on April 24, he was again bailed while awaiting sentencing and committed two more offences - a robbery and an attempted robbery - on April 27.

First, he went to a branch of Boots in Eastbourne Road, Pevensey, in the morning and, armed with a knife, forced his way into the dispensing area before fleeing without any drugs.

Then, in the afternoon, he entered Kamsons Pharmacy in Victoria drive, Eastbourne, and demanded Oxycodone. When staff refused, the court heard he threatened them with “do you want a knife?” Staff gave him a box of the Oxycodone tablets and he left the pharmacy.

Youssefi was arrested in Hastings on April 28 and taken into custody. A police search of his car found blister packs of Oxycodone that matched what was stolen from Kamsons Pharmacy the day before.

Youssefi was charged with robbery, attempted robbery and possession of a knife in a public place. Detective constable Chris Perry, who worked across the three cases, said Youssefi’s sentence “reflects the severity of his crimes.”

“We hope this gives a strong message to those who may be considering following in his footsteps,” Perry said.

Detective Constable Marcus Cox, who also worked on the cases, said: “The victims were left understandably shaken by these incidents and we hope now that Youssefi has been sentenced, they can begin to put this behind them.

“We would like to thank those who assisted police enquiries during the course of this investigation, as the accounts provided were crucial in helping us to secure the sentencing result.”

Picture: Sussex Police