A robber drew blood from his farm with a syringe and told pursuing gardai and civilians that he would not be arrested.
Paul Flood then held a knife to his stomach, Det Garda Michael Murray told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He persuaded Flood to calm down and arrested him.
Flood (31), Marian Villas, Cork Street, Dublin, was jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to four robberies in 1995. The first was carried out in February and the remaining three on October 12th, 17th band 20th last.
Det Garda John Connors' told prosecuting counsel Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh that the defendant had been abusing drugs since he was 13 years old.