TWO NOTTINGHAM ROBBERS WERE GIVEN A ‘LAST CHANCE’

TWO NOTTINGHAM ROBBERS WERE GIVEN A ‘LAST CHANCE’ BY THE
CRIMINAL APPEAL COURT IN LONDON TODAY (TUESDAY) WHEN THEIR TWO-YEAR
JAIL SENTENCES WERE REPLACED BY ONES OF I8 MONTHS SUSPENDED FOR TWO
YEARS.

THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, LORD LANE, TOLD RICHARD ANDREW MERRIN
AND MICHAEL ROGER BAKER:’THIS IS THE SORT OF CHANCE VERY FEW PEOPLE
GET.

‘DON’T LET US DOWN.

IF YOU DO YOUR LIVES ARE GOING TO BE A SORRY

MESS’.

MR.

JUSTICE SIMON BROWN, WHO GAVE THE COURT’S JUDGMENT,

COMMENTED: ‘THIS MUST BE REGARDED BY BOTH AS THEIR FINAL OPPORTUNITY.

WERE THEY TO ERR AGAIN THEY COULD NEVER EXPECT SUCH A MERCIFUL
APPROACH’.

MERRIN, 25, OF HIGHBURY VALE, BULWELL, AND BAKER, 26, OF

BROOKLYN ROAD, WERE SENTENCED AT NOTTINGHAM CROWN COURT FOR A ROBBERY

THEY COMMITTED IN DECEMBER 1983.

WITH ANOTHER MAN THEY SNATCHED A BRIEFCASE CONTAINING #3,75O
FROM THE SON OF THE OWNER OF A NOTTINGHAM GROCERY SHOP – THE MONEY

WAS THE DAY’S TAKINGS.

BOTH ADMITTED THE ROBBERY WHILE IN PRISON LAST YEAR FOR OTHER
OFFENCES.

MR.

JUSTICE SIMON BROWN SAID BOTH MEN HAD HOMES AND JOBS TO
RETURN TO.

MERRIN HAD STARTED WORK AS A CHEF AND THE COUNCIL HAS
PROVIDED A FLAT TO HOUSE HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HER EIGHT-YEAR-OLD

DAUGHTER.

BAKER WENT TO WORK FOR HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND LIVED WITH A
WOMAN EXPECTING HIS CHILD’.

END