9:15am Tuesday 7th October 2008

FOUR young men who staged an armed robbery at a Wirral betting shop
have all received lengthy prison sentences.
“You went tooled up on this premeditated venture,” Judge John Roberts
told them.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that three of the gang burst into the shop
armed with an imitation air pistol, a hammer and a wheel brace and
with their faces hidden with masks and scarves.
They demanded cash from the terrified manager, Donal Morgan, and
ordered him to open the safe at the premises of Chris Pluck in
Thingwall Road, Irby.
There was no cash in the safe but they took Mr Morgan’s laptop
computer from it, £872 cash from below the till and a mobile phone and
were driven off by a waiting getaway driver, said Joanne Maxwell,
prosecuting.
The registration number of the getaway Ford Focus was noted by passers-
by and this led police to go the home of Matthew Hill’s girlfriend in
Strathlorne Close, Rock Ferry, an hour later.
The Ford Focus was seen outside with Michael Roe driving and David
Higgins in the front passenger seat.
Their path was blocked by a police car, but Roe rammed the car into
their vehicle twice, leaving two of the three occupants with
whiplash.
They drove off but were caught and the stolen laptop was found in the
boot and cash was found on the two men.
When Hill’s girlfriend’s home was searched, the imitation gun, hammer
and clothing worn in the raid were found.
Hill and the other man involved, Michael Cross, were arrested later.
Miss Maxwell said that Mr Morgan had been badly affected by the
incident and now has trouble sleeping and is concerned the shop may be
targetted again.
33-year-old Hill, of of St Paul’s Road, Rock Ferry, was described by
Judge Roberts as “a dangerous man” and was sentenced to an
indeterminate sentence for public protection with a minimum term of
five years.
“Whether you are ever released will be decided by the Parole Board,”
he told Hill, whose previous convictions include robbery.
Roe, 28, of Chepstow Street, Walton, received ten years and was banned
from driving for six years. Cross, 23, of Dencourt Road, Norris Green,
was jailed for eight years and Higgins, 22, also of Chepstow Street,
received seven years.
All four men pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation
firearm while comm-itting an offence on February 6. Roe also admitted
dangerous driving.
The court heard that they all have previous convictions.
Philip Astbury, defending, said that Hill’s problems stemmed from his
drug habit.
He had pleaded guilty and was remorseful.
--
Where there is discord, may we bring harmony.
Where there is error, may we bring truth.
Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.
And where there is despair, may we bring hope.
Margaret Thatcher, 3rd May 1979.
http://www.conservatives.com

I'm just glad Robbie Keane kept his nose out of this one...

"Darth Simian"  wrote in message 
news:f9705d9a-8ac7-4957-b341-23e7f89f0677@a2g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
9:15am Tuesday 7th October 2008

FOUR young men who staged an armed robbery at a Wirral betting shop
have all received lengthy prison sentences.
“You went tooled up on this premeditated venture,” Judge John Roberts
told them.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that three of the gang burst into the shop
armed with an imitation air pistol, a hammer and a wheel brace and
with their faces hidden with masks and scarves.
They demanded cash from the terrified manager, Donal Morgan, and
ordered him to open the safe at the premises of Chris Pluck in
Thingwall Road, Irby.
There was no cash in the safe but they took Mr Morgan’s laptop
computer from it, £872 cash from below the till and a mobile phone and
were driven off by a waiting getaway driver, said Joanne Maxwell,
prosecuting.
The registration number of the getaway Ford Focus was noted by passers-
by and this led police to go the home of Matthew Hill’s girlfriend in
Strathlorne Close, Rock Ferry, an hour later.
The Ford Focus was seen outside with Michael Roe driving and David
Higgins in the front passenger seat.
Their path was blocked by a police car, but Roe rammed the car into
their vehicle twice, leaving two of the three occupants with
whiplash.
They drove off but were caught and the stolen laptop was found in the
boot and cash was found on the two men.
When Hill’s girlfriend’s home was searched, the imitation gun, hammer
and clothing worn in the raid were found.
Hill and the other man involved, Michael Cross, were arrested later.
Miss Maxwell said that Mr Morgan had been badly affected by the
incident and now has trouble sleeping and is concerned the shop may be
targetted again.
33-year-old Hill, of of St Paul’s Road, Rock Ferry, was described by
Judge Roberts as “a dangerous man” and was sentenced to an
indeterminate sentence for public protection with a minimum term of
five years.
“Whether you are ever released will be decided by the Parole Board,”
he told Hill, whose previous convictions include robbery.
Roe, 28, of Chepstow Street, Walton, received ten years and was banned
from driving for six years. Cross, 23, of Dencourt Road, Norris Green,
was jailed for eight years and Higgins, 22, also of Chepstow Street,
received seven years.
All four men pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation
firearm while comm-itting an offence on February 6. Roe also admitted
dangerous driving.
The court heard that they all have previous convictions.
Philip Astbury, defending, said that Hill’s problems stemmed from his
drug habit.
He had pleaded guilty and was remorseful.

He may have been the imitation firearm.  He knows a thing or two about
shooting with no end product.
On 8 Oct, 12:17, "Col. ]v[etaphoid"  wrote:
> I'm just glad Robbie Keane kept his nose out of this one...
>
> "Darth Simian"  wrote in message
>
> news:f9705d9a-8ac7-4957-b341-23e7f89f0677@a2g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
> 9:15am Tuesday 7th October 2008
>

> armed with an imitation air pistol, a hammer and a wheel brace and
> with their faces hidden with masks and scarves.