A homeless armed robber from Southwark who targeted Bureau de Changes at travel agents between July and October has been jailed for thirteen years.
Robert Darling, 37, stole thousands in his robberies in Upminster, Bexleyheath and Kent and was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
In the robberies, Darling threatened members of staff with a firearm and ordered them to empty the safes of money.
He was detained by officers from the Flying Squad at a Rotherhithe address on October 21 – where the gun and money from the Upminster offence were recovered.
He admitted the following at court:
– Robbery on September 18, at Thomson Travel Agents, Broadway, Bexleyheath.
– Robbery on October 21, at Thomson Travel Agents, Bell Corner, Upminster.
– Robbery on July 8 at Thomas Cook, Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
– Possession imitation firearm on September 18, at Thomson Travel Agents, Broadway, Bexleyheath.
– Possession imitation firearm October 21, at Thomson Travel Agents, Bell Corner, Upminster.
– Possession imitation firearm July 8 at Thomas Cook, Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
– Possession/ control identity documents with intent.
In the Bexley robbery Darling stole £67,000, £5,000 in the Upminster raid and in the Kent incident £32,000 was taken – none of which has been recovered.
DC Leisa Johnson, of the Met’s Organised Crime Command, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for all of the people involved. The firearm pointed at them appeared genuine and this was coupled with threats to shoot them from Darling.”