Pair who declared 'Merry Christmas, you're getting robbed' at Rustington bookmakers are jailed

Tuesday, 5 May 2020 16:49

Two men, who stormed into a bookmakers in Rustington at the end of last year and declared 'Merry Christmas, you're getting robbed', have been jailed for a total of nearly 15 years. Police said Graham Baker, of Shadwells Road, and Billy Betts, of Irene Avenue, both in Lancing, entered Coral in The Street around 6.20pm on December 17. According to officers, the pair demanded money from a single member of staff and assaulted her, while claiming to be in possession of a gun. They then left the premises with a small amount of cash, but were arrested nearby shortly afterwards. Baker, 44, and Betts, 28, were subsequently charged with robbery. At Lewes Crown Court on Friday (May, 1), Baker was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison, while Betts was jailed for seven years and five months. DC Matt Watson said: "I'd like to commend the bravery of the victim and the numerous members of the public who provided witness statements, which - together with overwhelming CCTV evidence - helped us bring these two violent offenders to justice." More Radio is continuously dedicated to providing a quality news service on-air and online, reporting local stories that matter across Sussex. If you found this story useful, then check out our home page at moreradio.online where you can find the latest from the county, along with features and competitions from our presenters, as well as listening to the station live. You can also sign up to our news alerts to receive updates on new stories. Simply click on the bell at the bottom right of the home page. This will then allow a pop-up which will ask if you would like to receive alerts. Press ‘allow’ and you’re all signed up!You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.