Armed betting shop robber gets eight years.

AN ARMED robber who targeted betting shops and post offices was sentenced to eight years in prison at Kingston Crown Court in Surrey on Friday, writes Bill Barber.

Shaun Partleton, of Purley Oaks, Croydon, admitted a series of offences between May and December last year including six counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and seven counts of possessing a firearm.

The 24-year-old was arrested by unarmed officers following a robbery at a bookmakers in Streatham Hill in southwest London.

Partleton took a minicab to the betting shop, where he proceeded to threaten staff with a handgun and make demands for money.

However, plain clothes officers had the area under surveillance following repeated raids on the shop and watched Partleton leave in the minicab before following in an unmarked car.

Partleton realised that he was being followed and left the minicab on Brixton Hill before running away, but the two officers chased and caught him.

An imitation firearm and money were recovered at the scene.

Detective Inspector Tom Murray, from Barnes Flying Squad, said: "This is an extremely positive result for not just the Flying Squad but for all involved in Operation Vanguard.

"By working with colleagues across the Met we have taken a criminal off the streets who thought nothing of committing several robberies a day, all using a firearm.

"Partleton had terrorised numerous people who were working or going about their daily activities in the course of his robberies and the sentence reflects that."