Islington Council neighbourhood rent offices were
Islington Council neighbourhood rent offices were targeted
by a robber who was jailed for nine years today (Thurs).
His accomplice on one of the three raids was jailed for
five years.
On three occasions terrified cashiers were threatened with being
shot if they refused to hand over cash, a jury at Snaresbrook Crown
Court Court were told.
They convicted Paul Willis, 25, of three counts of robbery
totalling pnds stlg 2,970.
Jobless Willis, of St Paul’s Road, Highbury, had denied the
charges.
Jeffrey Hughes, 25, of Mull Walk, Marquess Estate, Islington,
N1, pleaded guilty to one of the robberies.
Passing sentence Judge David Pitman told them: ‘In each robbery
there was some careful thought, although no elaborate planning.
‘These sorts of offence are very easy to commit and cause
justified terror to cashiers.
‘
Willis was jailed for nine years concurrent on each
robbery while jobless Hughes got five years.
As sentence was passed Willis’s girlfriend – who gave evidence
as his alibi witness during the trial – broke down in tears and ran
towards the dock.
After the pair were led away Detective Inspector Steven
Nottingham from Holloway Police Station told the court that in all
there were 11 similar robberies on local neighbourhood offices which
had caused him ‘great alarm.
‘
He added: ‘Since the arrest of these two they have stopped
completely in the Islington area.
‘
Judge Pitman commended Det.
Insp.
Nottingham and his team for
‘persistence and skill in the investigation of theses robberies.
‘
And outside court the inspector added: ‘I thank the local
authority, Islington Borough Council for their support in a
partnership approach to investigating these matters.
‘
The jury had been shown footage from video cameras that were in
operation in the offices at the time of the raids.
On April 10 last year Islington Council employee Yvonne Joseph
was working in a neighbourhood office in Highbury New Park, Highbury,
said Mr Tony Docking, prosecuting.
People were queueing up to pay rent and poll tax.
Willis passed a piece of paper under the grill which read:
‘I’ve got a gun, hand over the cash.
‘
Willis then opened his jacket to show what the cashier thought
was a gun in his waistband.
He was given pnds stlg 320.
And at the same office on July 31 last year Willis and Hughes,
who acted as look-out, carried out a similar armed raid involving pnds
stlg 750.
But on August 13 Willis turned his attentions to another
Islington neighbourhood office in Lion Street where Edward Skelly was
on duty.
He was passed a carrier bag and note which read: ‘This is a hold-
up, fill the bag up with money or I’ll shoot.
‘
‘Mr Skelly saw what he believed was the butt of an automatic
pistol and promptly handed over the money,’ said Mr Docking.
That robbery was the most lucrative of the three
hold-ups with pnds stlg 1,900 being handed over.
The pair were arrested in October last year and picked out in
identification parades.
Giving evidence Willis maintained it was not he who could be
seen on the video footage but someone of a similar appearance.
He claimed he was with his girlfriend when the robberies took
place.
Mr Shane Sheridan, defending Hughes, said that at the time he
took part in the robbery he was addicted to heroin and received pnds
stlg 300 for his part as look-out.
‘He did not know a gun was being used,’ added counsel.
Mr Nigel Lambert, defending Willis, said he never
used physical force and at no time pointed the gun at cashiers.
‘There was no high degree of planning or sophistication.
‘
ENDS
