‘Appalling’ pair hid behind masks
This is the freaky mask used by ‘appalling' robbers as a delivery driver was threatened with being ‘chopped up’ in a sickening crime.
As reported in the Echo, the shameless pair, who robbed a newspaper delivery driver at knife-point while wearing Halloween masks, were jailed on Monday.
Police have now released images of evidence from the case as officers send a strong message to those considering offending.
In the early hours of May 15 last year, it was reported that a driver had started his rounds for the day when he noticed a Nissan Juke had been following his route through South Tyneside.
When he arrived at the One Stop store in Cleadon to deliver their batch of newspapers, a man and woman wearing Halloween masks exited the Juke and made their move.
The male offender – later revealed to be 45-yearold William Bogie – began to verbally threaten the driver, threatening to “chop him up”, while waving a machete at him.
Bogie then drove away from the area in the stolen delivery van, with his female accomplice, 43-year-old Leanne Craggs, driving away in the Juke.
The incident was reported to police and an investigation was immediately launched, leading to the arrest of both Bogie and Craggs in connection with the robbery.
Officers swiftly identified Bogie on CCTV wearing the same clothing as described from the robbery while at a petrol station near to the A690 Durham Road in Sunderland a few hours earlier.
A search was carried out at Craggs’ home address at a later date where detectives located two Halloween masks believed to have been worn in the robbery – as well as a large haul of newspapers dated the same day as the attack within the property and in a nearby back lane.
The stolen van – worth £25,000 – was also later recovered by police on patrol.
Leanne Craggs, of Villiers Street in Sunderland was later charged with robbery and pleaded guilty to the offence on the basis she did not know Bogie was armed in November.
She appeared before Newcastle Crown Court where she was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.
William Bogie, of Somerset Cottages in Sunderland, was charged with a string of offences including robbery, possession of a bladed article and breach of bail conditions – as well as driving offences for being disqualified and no insurance use.
He denied all charges to put him but was later found guilty by a jury following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Bogie appeared before the same court where he was jailed for six and a half years.
Detective Constable Chris Sengelow, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was an appalling incident which saw Bogie and Craggs target a lone delivery driver, going about his morning. There is simply no excuse for their behaviour – and I am pleased to see them both behind bars.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing Bogie and Craggs to justice. We will continue to do all we can to tackle perpetrators like this and ensure our region remains as safe a place as it possibly can be to live, work and visit.”