A former SPL footballer who turned to armed robbery after his career went sour has been jailed for 11 years. 

Ohmar Pike, 27, who played for Gretna FC for 18 months before they went into administration in 2008, got involved in raids on betting shops with former England footballer Nathan Ashton, 29. 

The pair netted nearly £15,000 in eight raids across London and the South East between May and October 2015. 

In one robbery, a cashier "fell to his knees and had a panic attack and begged for his life", Kingston Crown Court heard. 

One of the robbers then put a gun to the back of his head and said: "I'm going to blow your head off, if you don't open the safe". 

Pike, a dad-of-two, qualified as a satellite engineer, but was made redundant in February last year, and fell into debt.

This led to him turning a friendship with Ashton into a "successful criminal partnership", robbing Paddy Power, William Hill and Coral betting shops in a five-month spree. 

Pike and Ashton, wearing scarves and hoods, targeted the bookies just after they opened in the morning or before closing time when they knew cash would be available, the court heard. 

Branches targeted included the Kings Road in Chelsea, Woking, Putney, Isleworth, Hammersmith, Acton, Watford and High Wycombe. 

Pike, found guilty by a jury last week, was jailed for 11 years. Ashton, who admitted his role in the raids, was jailed for 15 years. 

The former Scottish Premier League player of High Wycombe, Bucks, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to rob but cleared of one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm or imitation firearm. 

Judge Susan Tapping said: "These robberies were carefully planned and developed a pattern to them. 

"You must have travelled extensively to identify your targets." 

Judge Tapping told Pike: "I have considered your family circumstances. You also had a promising life until last year, and the disintegration of it is very sad, particularly for your children. 

"But perhaps you should have thought of them first and not just now." 

Both Ashton and Pike made no reaction as the sentences were passed, while their family members wept in the public gallery. 

Roderick Jones, defending Pike, said: "He had a spell in the Scottish Premier League with one of the less fashionable sides. He was also paid a decent wage for a young man." 

But after the club went into administration, "he soon realised that the world of professional football was not going to provide the riches and satisfaction he hoped for," he added. 

Sam Brown, acting for Ashton, told the court: "Nathan Ashton had an enduring friendship with Ohmar Pike, which, for reasons only known to themselves, evolved into a successful criminal partnership. 

"The offenders exploited a vulnerability - namely, robberies took place when cashiers were susceptible to attack." 

They picked random locations to "disrupt" police efforts to identity the "pattern of offending", he added. 

Ashton, who made 20 appearances for England teams from under-16 to under-19 level, developed a gambling habit as a footballer. 

But, following a rape allegation - for which he was later acquitted - he "lost his livelihood", and his debts spiralled out of control, apparently reaching £100,000 last August. 

He started robbing betting shops after a friend suggested it was an easy way to raise cash. 

Ashton, of Reading, pled guilty to three counts of robbery, two counts of possession of an imitation firearm, one count of conspiracy to rob and one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm or imitation firearm. 

No plea was entered for a further six counts - four counts of robbery, one of dangerous driving and one of possessing a firearm - which will lie on file. 

Tiny Gretna were promoted to the SPL at the end of the 2005-2006 season but struggled in the top flight. 

They then suffered severe financial problems with £4million of debt and businessman Brooks Mileson, its main financial backer, withdrew funds due to ill health. 

The club went into administration on March 12, 2008 and after the club captain was made redundant on March 25, a further 22 players, along with coaching staff, were also let go. 

During their history Gretna took part in a famous cup final against Hearts in 2006, which they lost in a penalty shoot-out.