Prison term for armed raid

2:50pm Friday 18th July 2008

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A robber who snatched thousands of pounds from a shop before fleeing on a bicycle armed with a Rambostyle knife has been jailed for five years.

Joseph Hatcher fled from the Coin Shop bureau de change in Hove, dropping money as he went and followed by passers-by.

The 37-year-old was eventually caught after trying to lose a taxi driver who was following him by hiding under bushes in a garden.

An accomplice, also on a bike, has never been traced.

At Lewes Crown Court, Hatcher, a builder of Buckingham Road, Shoreham, admitted robbery.

The court heard the two men barged into the Coin Shop in Church Road on the afternoon of March 13.

They broke down an inner door to a back room terrifying the two members of staff, Brian Imison and Tracey Mackey, before fleeing with £2,217 and 8,400 euros.

The staff were unhurt but left shaken by their ordeal.

Nicholas Hall, prosecuting, said the two staff first became aware of the robbery when they heard hammering on an inner door in the shop, which leads behind the counter.

Mr Imison pushed against the door to try to stop the robbers but the door burst open.

One of the men had a knife, a large combat weapon with a seven-inch blade, a curved point and a serrated edge. It was described as being like the knife Rambo, the film character, carried. The prosecution believe Hatcher was carrying the blade but he accused the other man of having the weapon.

Mr Hall said one of the robbers pointed the knife at Mr Imison and said: “Don’t move, don’t worry.”

The intruders scooped up money on the counter and ran out.

They jumped on bicycles they had used to cycle to the shop and fled in opposite directions with cash falling out of their hands.

But the robbery had been seen by a taxi driver who happened to stop outside the shop. The cabbie followed Hatcher as he set off along Church Road. Members of the public also gave chase for around 600 yards as he fled on his push bike into Sackville Road where he ran into the front garden of a house and tried to hide in bushes.

The police arrived quickly and the first officer at the scene tried to arrest Hatcher but he struggled and ran off.

He was chased along the road by officers who caught him.

Money dropped by the robbers was collected by passers-by and handed to the police.

The court was told the two shop workers were left distressed and frightened by their ordeal. Ms Mackey described feeling terrified and worried she and her colleague were going to be hurt during the robbery. It was also told Hatcher has previous convictions for dishonesty, burglary and violence.

Nicholas Hamblin, defending, said Hatcher committed the offence because he was being threatened by drug dealers to whom he owed money.

He said Hatcher felt shame for what he had done and since his remand in custody following his arrest he has stopped taking drugs.

Mr Hamblin said Hatcher had written two letters of apology to his victims.