Ringleader in terrifying armed robbery at Black Country bookmakers jailed
The ringleader of a terrifying armed robbery at a Black Country bookmakers has started a four-and-a-half-year jail sentence.
Luke Wroe and an accomplice were each brandishing a knife when they burst into the William Hill shop in Brettell Lane, Amblecote, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
They escaped with £479 cash after demanding money from the lone woman assistant on duty at the time, revealed Mr David Lees, prosecuting.
Police swooped on the home of the 26 year old, who had four previous convictions for robbery, shortly after the September 23 raid following a tip off, the court was told.
The officers found the knife together with a small amount of cannabis and amphetamines at the address, disclosed Mr Lees.
Wroe told detectives that he resorted to crime because he had not benefit money left and was desperate for cash. He had declined to identify the other culprit - who is still at large - for fear of reprisals, it was said.
Mr Richard Vardon, defending, conceded that it must have been 'truly frightening' for the woman working in the bookmakers but pointed out that no violence was used by the robbers.
Wroe from Fisher Street, Brierley Hill admitted robbery along with possession of the controlled drugs and knife found by police at his home.
He was jailed by Recorder Michael Tregilgas-Davey who told him: "It is quite clear that when times are hard you turn to committing robberies. The woman working in the bookmakers was terrified by what happened and what you did has had a significant effect on her life. This shop was targeted because you were hoping to get away with a much larger sum of money."
