‘Sorry, I’m desperate’
ARMED ROBBER APOLOGISED TO HIS VICTIM DURING A TERRIFYING RAID AT CORAL BOOKMAKERS IN FAWDON
AN armed robber pointed a gun at a lone betting shop worker before telling him “sorry, I’m desperate” – then made off with £175 in cash.
Richard Soltanpur apologised to his victim as he put a bag on the counter to be filled with cash during a terrifying raid at Coral bookmakers in Fawdon, Newcastle.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the 42-year-old gunman then caught a Metro and travelled one stop to Kingston Park, where armed police, who had tracked him through CCTV, were waiting to arrest him.
Soltanpur, of Peldon Close, Longbenton, Newcastle, admitted robbery and possessing a firearm, namely a gas powered BB gun, which was loaded and cocked, at the time of the offence.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch told the court Soltanpur had gone into the shop at around lunchtime on March 20.
Mr Bunch said: “He approached the counter and produced from his clothing a handgun. That gun he pointed towards the employee.
“At the same time, he placed on the counter a bag, which he had on his back when he entered the shop.
“He told him to put the money into the bag.”
The court heard the worker complied with the robber’s order but also pressed a silent alarm to alert the authorities that the shop was under attack.
Mr Bunch added: “The defendant placed the notes into his bag then commented ‘sorry, I’m desperate.’”
The court heard Soltanpur disposed of a cap he was wearing in a nearby bin and told police when asked about the money “it’s already been taken off me”.
The bookies worker said in an impact statement: “The whole incident shocked me.
“I was shaken by the incident and the fact he was pointing a gun at me.
“I just wanted to give him the money so he would leave.
“I was fearful he would shoot me or the gun would go off.”
Mr Recorder Matthew Happold sentenced Soltanpur to two years and eight months behind bars.
The judge told him: “He was worried about being shot, not surprisingly.” Richard Bloomfield, defending, said Soltanpur had run up a drugs debt before he committed the offence and added: “He said ‘sorry, I’m desperate’ and he was.”
Mr Bloomfield said the fact Soltanpur had none of the stolen cash on him when he was arrested could indicate he was “accompanied and told what to do”.
Mr Bloomfield said Soltanpur has happy family relationships and is sorry for what he did.