Two men who were involved in robberies at a post office and a bookmakers in Ipswich have today been locked up for a total of 24 years.
Sentencing Colin Weeding and Darryl Malone, Judge John Devaux described the raids at Dales Road post office and Coral bookmakers in Stoke Park Drive as “professionally planned commercial robberies”.
Weeding, 27, of no fixed address and Malone, 24, of Harvey Road, Colchester, had denied conspiracy to commit robbery between March 3 and May 2 last year and were found guilty after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court in the summer. They were each jailed for 12 years.
Also before the court were Sian Warner, 25, of Stonechat Road, Ipswich, and Courtney Parker, 19, of Campion Road, Ipswich.
Warner, who had denied conspiracy to commit robbery but was found guilty, was given an 18 month prison sentence suspended for 24 months.
She was also ordered to take part in a rehabilitation activity requirement and was given a three month curfew.
Parker, who denied two charges of converting criminal property on March 23 last year but was found guilty, was given a one year community order, a rehabilitation activity requirement and a two month curfew.
A fifth defendant Tyren Brooks, 26, of Campion Road, Ipswich had denied conspiracy to commit robberies and two offences of converting criminal property but was found guilty.
His sentencing hearing will take place on December 8.
The charges arose out of an investigation into raids at Dales Road post office on March 23 last year, Coral bookmakers in Stoke Park Drive, Ipswich on April 10, and the robbery of a G4S driver in Lovetofts Drive, Ipswich on May 1 last year.
The court heard that Weeding had “charged” into the Dales Road post office shortly after 9am on March 23 and ordered frightened staff to fill a sports bag with bank notes.
Weeding had a drill under his fleece and made staff think it was a gun.
Weeding had escaped with £3,000 cash on a stolen motorbike driven by Brooks.
At 9pm on April 10 Brooks and Malone, who were wearing full-face motor bike helmets burst into Coral bookmakers in Stoke Park Drive and jumped over the counter.
As frightened customers left the shop one of the intruders pointed a knife at them and told them not to “make any calls”.
The robbers escaped with £950 on a stolen motor bike.
On May 1 last year a security can driver was making a cash delivery in Lovetofts Drive when he was robbed at knifepoint by a man said to be Brooks, said Edward Renvoize, prosecuting.
Coins to the value of £1,000 were stolen and the victim suffered a small cut to his wrist when he was stabbed as he tried to “barge” the robber.
Warren was accused of allowing her house to be used as a safe house for the robbers and Parker and Brooks had deposited £1,000 stolen from the post office robbery in Parker’s bank account.
None of the defendants gave evidence during the trial, which lasted nearly four weeks.
After the case District Crown Prosecutor for CPS East of England, Richard White said: “These people were responsible for terrifying staff and forcing them to hand over money by threatening them with weapons, then making a swift getaway on a motorbike.
“The defendants may have thought that because they wore motorcycle helmets during the robberies they wouldn’t be detected, but there was a wealth of evidence to prove that they were guilty of a criminal conspiracy.”
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