ROBBER SAID SORRY AS HE RAN OFF WITH £100

Victim was pushed against wall by man who knew her

ROBBER Andrew Holland has been jailed after he shoved an arcade worker to the floor to steal £100.

The 36-year-old first burgled a launderette in Kidsgrove taking cash from the machines.

And hours later he stole £100 from the Silver Coin arcade in the town and pushed a worker out of the way to escape. But he knew his victim as he used the shop on a regular basis and apologised to her as he left.

Now Holland has been jailed for 18 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Antony Longworth said the defendant burgled Kidsgrove Launderette, in Market Street, in the early hours of August 22.

Mr Ashdown said: “The front door was prised open. The launderette had been left secure. The coin mechanisms on the 12 machines were broken into to get at the cash.”

Later that day the defendant robbed a worker at the Silver Coin arcade in Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove, below.

Mr Ashdown said: “The defendant is a regular customer. She knows his name and address as he goes in three or four times a day.

“He went in at 10.20am and was in for about 30 minutes before he left. He went back at 12.30pm. He appeared to be on edge and she asked if he was ok.

“He said he was waiting for another man who was late. He went to go for a cigarette and asked to use the toilet.

“The worker looked around the back of the arcade and saw the door to the cash machine was open. She thought she might have forgotten to lock it but it had been forced. “She saw the defendant inside near the cash drawer. She went inside and he grabbed her and pushed her against the wall before making good his escape. He said, ‘I am sorry’, as he left.

“She saw the cash drawer was open and £100 cash had been taken.”

The defendant was identified from the CCTV at the launderette and was known by the victim of the robbery.

Holland, of Queen Street, Kidsgrove, pleaded guilty to burglary and robbery.

Scott Ashdown, mitigating, said the defendant has used drugs since he was aged 16 and has spent his life in and out of prison.

He was released from custody in April but soon fell in with the wrong crowd and returned to drug use.

But as the months progressed he began to turn the corner and obtained a methadone prescription.

Mr Ashdown said: “There were people who wanted paying for the drugs he had purchased from months earlier.

“Two people, in particular, he needed to get off his back, which led to both offences being committed.

“The burglary was very unsophisticated.”

Judge David Fletcher said: “Fortunately, for you and her, she does not seem to have sustained any long lasting effect from your behaviour. She did not deserve to be dealt with the way you did, by you pushing her out the way, because you saw the colour of money.”