AN armed robbery of a bookmakers where staff were threatened with a 2ft long machete has landed two men in prison.
Mark Rocky Hawkes and Garry McDonald targeted Ladbrokes on Redcar High Street after coming up with the plan whilst under the influence of drink and drugs.
The pair left one of the women terrified as a result of the raid on August 2, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Hawkes, pictured below, wearing a ski-mask, ran into the shop brandishing a machete, jumped onto the counter and demanded the woman fill a bag with cash while McDonald stood watch at the door.
Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, said the pair were caught on CCTV making their way from the pub to the bookies in the minutes leading up to the terrifying raid.
He said: “He (Hawkes) threw a cloth bag at the two female victims, who were alone on the premises.
"He then shouted 'give me all the notes from the till'."
The pair of robbers escaped with a total of £279.32 in cash.
Both defendants had pleaded guilty to charges of robbery, attempted robbery and possession of bladed article at earlier hearings.
A victim impact statement from one of the women was read out to the court. She said she was ‘completely shocked’ by the robbery.
She added: “I felt sick when I saw the sword the man had in his hand – it felt surreal.”
Alex Bousfield, mitigating for Hawkes, 38, of Firsby Court, Middlesbrough, said his client had battled with a drug problem for a number of years and relapsed at the time of the robbery.
He added: “He’s very upset with himself, as is his family, that he has committed an offence like this – it’s a massive step up on his previous history.”
Nicci Horton, mitigating on behalf of McDonald, pictured above, 53, of Alfred Street, Redcar, said he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder after seeing one of his friend’s killed by the IRA while he was serving in the army.
Judge Peter Armstrong jailed them both for four years for the robbery charges and a concurrent 12 month sentence for possession of a bladed article.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel