Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said: "Prior to Mr Stewart's intervention terrified staff believed Davison was an armed robber. They were going to hand over a pre-packed bundle of marked notes."

The court heard Davison, of Torquay, Devon, attempted to raid the bank just hours after appearing at a local court on a charge of criminal damage.

He spent 403 days in custody on remand, which was the equivalent of a 30-month sentence, so he avoided a further jail term and made the subject of a two year community order.