A man who penned a threatening handwritten note to demand money from a betting shop in St Leonards has been jailed.
Kenneth Brown, 56, of Marline Road, St Leonards, walked into Coral in Battle Road on Monday 2 January and slid a note across the counter, which read “GIVE ME THE MONEY OR I’ll BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF.”
While doing so, he wrapped a jacket around his hand and forearm giving the appearance he had a firearm.
The cashier then withdrew £130 from the register and handed this over to Brown, who left the shop and attempted to cover a camera on his way out.
The note written by Brown
Brown was identified through CCTV from the betting shop and was subsequently charged with robbery.
He appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Monday, February 6 and pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.
He had also pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to stealing an elderly woman’s purse outside Co-op in London Road, St Leonards, on Thursday, December 15 last year.
Brown was sentenced to a total of four years imprisonment.
He was also ordered to pay £228 victim surcharge.
Brown attempting to cover a camera on his way out of the betting shop
Prevention Inspector Aidan Cornwall, of the Hastings and Rother Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“This was a callous offence where Kenneth Brown sought to put cashiers in fear that he had a firearm in order to get them to hand over money.
“He was quickly identified and arrested by our officers and we remanded him in custody to place him before the next available court.
“We welcome this robust sentence of imprisonment to protect our community.”
Event Bookings Go Live For Worthing Festival ‘24
Man Charged After Throwing Brick Through Brighton Restaurant Window
Peacehaven Man Disqualified Over High-Speed A27 Pursuit Near Brighton
Appeal After PCSO Assaulted In Uckfield
Man Charged With Rape Of Teenage Girl In Newhaven
Overnight Closures For A22 Forest Row Road Improvements
Brighton Defence Manufacturer's Controversial Planning Application Likely To Be Heard
Over £2.4m Approved For Worthing School Support Centre
Section Of M25 To Close Again Tonight - As Drivers Warned Not To Get Complacent
Plans For 800 New Horsham Homes Refused