Robert Darling, formerly of Strickland Street, London, threatened staff and customers with an imitation firearm during the armed robbery at a Thomas Cook branch in the town centre this summer.
The Old Bailey heard how the 30-year-old had initially entered the store on Mount Pleasant Road at around 10.30am on July 8 and made an enquiry about currency rates before leaving.
He then returned an hour later armed with the imitation handgun demanding money and ordering employees and customers to kneel down against a wall.
During the incident, Darling pointed the gun at a member of staff who he ordered to take cash from the store’s safe and place it inside a carrier bag he was holding.
He later fled the scene making off with cash in various denominations to a value of around £32,000, Kent Live reports.
After similar offences were reported in the London area, Kent Police undertook a joint investigation with the Metropolitan Police and, as a result, Darling was arrested in Rotherhithe on October 21.
During the course of their investigation into Darling, the vehicle used in the Tunbridge Wells robbery was discovered and Darling’s DNA was detected on a hat recovered from the car, Kent Live reports.
He was later charged with robbery and possession of an imitation firearm in Tunbridge Wells as well as two further robberies in the London area.
He was also charged with two counts of possession of an imitation firearm and possession of a false identity document.
Appearing at the Old Bailey yesterday (December 6) Darling pleaded guilty to all the charges.
He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Wayne Totterdell, detective constable from Kent Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: "Darling was intent on making money by whatever means possible. He went into the travel agent in Tunbridge Wells clearly with little regard for both staff and customers, who were threatened with the prospect of a firearm and subjected to terrifying ordeals.
"Thanks to the hard work of our investigation team, our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police and also the courage of both victims and witnesses Darling has now been brought to justice and is where he belongs, in prison."
