Betting shop robber jailed for more than four years after New Cross raids

A robber who raided three betting shops in a week with notes saying “give me the money – or I will blow your ******* head off,” has been jailed.

Kenneth Brown, 53, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery in New Cross, and one count of robbery when he appeared at Croydon Crown Court via Skype on Wednesday.

At that hearing, he was jailed for a total of four years and eight months.

Brown first robbed a betting shop in New Cross Road on March 11. He entered the shop at around 6.45pm and handed the cashier a handwritten note which said ““give me the money – or I will blow your ******* head off”.

Brown also had his right hand in his pocket and was pointing it at the member of staff – intimating that he had a gun or weapon.

He made off with a small amount of cash.

Brown returned to the same betting shop on March 17 just after 7pm and demanded money, again intimating that he had a weapon in his pocket.

The member of staff activated the emergency button and Brown left the shop empty handed.

Around 10 minutes later, he entered a different bookmakers in the same road and, similar to the first offence, handed a note to the person behind the counter demanding money and making threats.

The two staff members escaped to the back office and Brown left the shop.

Police were called. Armed officers attended and they were given a suspect description. Within 20 minutes of the offence happening, after a brief area search officers found Brown. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Brown was charged on March 24. He first appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court the following day.

Detective Constable Dennis Valdez, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “These were terrifying incidents for the workers who were threatened by Brown.

“Armed officers were at the scene of the final robbery attempt within minutes. Brown was located in the area and detained very quickly, and he was linked to the previous robbery offences shortly after. The seriousness of the offences is reflected in the custodial sentence handed down.”