Gun-toting Christchurch bank robber Brent Atkinson who fled by bike jailed for 7 years

Bank robber Brent Atkinson made his getaway by bike.

A gun-toting bank robber who made his getaway on a bike has today been jailed for more than seven years.

Brent James Atkinson, 48, parked his bicycle outside the Bush Inn Centre Kiwibank branch in Riccarton about 1.30pm on January 19 this year.

With a balaclava over his face, under his bike helmet, he approached two female tellers and said, "Gimme all your money".

He handed each a red bag and a plastic shopping bag and pointed a gun at them.

The women put $2150 into the bags.

Atkinson, who has a long history of drug use, walked out of the bank and rode away on his bike.

Six days later, he parked his bike outside another Kiwibank branch on Riccarton Rd.

At 12.30pm, again wearing a balaclava, he walked into the bank carrying a black bag.

He approached a female teller, handed her shopping bags, and told her to put the money in them.

He then told her a second time and pointed a firearm at her.

The woman put about $1200 from the cash drawer into the bag and handed it to Atkinson.

He walked out of the bank and pedalled off.

Today at Christchurch District Court, Judge John Macdonald jailed Atkinson for seven years, two months in what he described as "brazen" offending that terrified staff and customers.

And given that Atkinson has two previous convictions for aggravated robbery - in 2008 he held up chemist employees at knifepoint and made off with drugs - the judge imposed a minimum non-parole period of three years, six months.