A 47-year-old man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday in New London Superior Court for robbing the Chelsea Groton Bank on Montauk Avenue in New London on Jan. 19.

Anthony Council had pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery. He has a criminal history dating back to 1990, according to court testimony. At the time of his arrest, he had just completed a six-year prison sentence for robbing a man at knifepoint on State Street in New London. He was on probation for a prior robbery conviction at the time.

According to New London Police, Council entered the bank in a hooded sweatshirt, handed the teller a note and indicated he had a weapon. He left the bank with $220. After setting up a perimeter and speaking with witnesses and searching the area, police said they found Council in a nearby building and arrested him within a half-hour.

Council's attorney, Public Defender Kevin C. Barrs, said Council had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Barrs said Council suffers from drug addiction and had been using cocaine when the robbery occurred.

"He's got a real difficult life ahead of him," Barrs said.

Judge Hillary B. Strackbein told Council to think about the people who are terrified as a result of the robberies.

"They're scared, because people have been killed during robberies," the judge said. "Think about that. You've had a difficult life. You're causing people to have a difficult life."

Council will be on special parole for eight years following his release from prison. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State's Attorney Paul J. Narducci.