Byline: By Graham Green
A CUMBRIAN man who robbed a betting shop and then sent flowers to two female assistants as an apology has been jailed for five years.
Paul Woods, 29, who said he was desperate to raise cash to repay a drugs debt, carried out the raid on the Cleator Moor branch of Ladbrokes with Nathaniel Rudd, 20, who was sent to a young offenders' institution Balenciaga Handbag Bags for four years.
Both men pleaded guilty to the robbery, and to earlier burgling a nearby off-licence, on November 20 last year.
Silver Pendants JewelryJohn Coffell, prosecuting at Carlisle Crown Court, said the betting shop staff were about to lock up when two men brandishing sticks burst in and demanded cash.
Before escaping with pounds 3,650, they ordered the two women to hand over their handbags. The robbery was captured on CCTV.
Just hours before the raid, Coffell said, the two men had been released from Workington police station, where they were held on suspicion of stealing alcohol and cigarettes from an off-licence.
Gerry Jones, representing Woods, of Cleator Moor, said his client had been frightened by threats of violence against his family by people he owed money to. "That provided the motivation to obtain money quickly
embroidered patches and hence the commission of the robbery," said Mr Jones. "He accepts full responsibility."
He said Woods regretted the robbery, adding: "His remorse was such that he asked his family to take flowers to the assistants in the shop to express his sorrow."
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