A man has been sentenced to more than ten years in jail after pleading guilty to robbing a number of opticians across London. 

Richard Royston Dyer, 50 (24.05.69) of no fixed address, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, 18 November where he was sentenced to ten and a half years in jail.

He had previously pleaded guilty to eight counts of robbery and two counts of theft between July and September this year. 

In five cases, Dyer threatened staff members with a bottle which he said contained acid before stealing multiple pairs of glasses and leaving the store.

On two occasions, he sprayed staff members with the liquid, causing minor injuries.

Dyer was arrested after an officer spotted him on Peter Street in Soho on 13 September. He was tackled to the ground and found to be in possession of a bottle of ammonia.

He was remanded in custody until trial.

The offences were as follow:

8 July: Robbery of opticians on Upper Street, N1; 
13 August: Robbery of opticians on Victoria Street, SW1; 
17 August: Robbery of opticians on Charlotte Place, W1; 
26 August: Robbery of shop on Regent Street, SW1; 
27 August: Theft of multiple pairs of sunglasses from shop on King’s Road, SW3;
29 August: Theft of multiple pairs of sunglasses from opticians on Victoria Street, SW1 (same store as 13 August);
30 August: Robbery of opticians on Victoria Street, SW1 (same store);
3 September: Robbery of shop on King’s Road, SW3 (same store as 27 August);
5 September: Robbery of shop on Victoria Street, SW1;

12 September: Robbery of shop on Regent Street, SW1