Serial bookie robber sentenced; Police seek witnesses to burglary

Robber jailed

Robber jailedGOTCHA! An armed robber targeted branches of William Hill and Ladbrokes over a two-month period before being caught and banged up for eight years. Mikhail Holness, 25, pled guilty to a number of different charges with his soiled sheet reading as follows:
• Five counts of robbery
• One count of attempted robbery
• Six counts of possession of an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence
• One count of possession of an imitation firearm in a public place.

In all he committed offences at six locations in Harrow with one a repeat target. His first took place at William Hill in Harrow on June 13 with the last at a branch of Ladbrokes in Greenford on August 15, the one branch that was hit twice. When arrested on September 19 he was in possession of an imitation handgun, balaclava and gloves with the inference that he was off to commit another robbery.

As one case is solved another cropped up with police hunting a man that robbed a betting shop on Saturday. William Hill’s branch in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire was robbed for a three-figure sum. The man was aged 30 to 40-years-old and wearing a black jacket, hooded top, dark trousers and a black scarf across his face. No wonder they’re getting out of betting shops left right and centre!

It should be noted that it’s rare anyone gets away with these offences such is the CCTV that is in place at most bookmakers. If that doesn’t get them then the community spirits surrounding shops is often enough to lead to the bad guys being found and hauled before a judge.