Knife Wielding Robber jailed for eight years
A knife-wielding robber, who was recognised by staff after he targeted a business near his home address in Twydall, has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. On Friday 9 November 2018, Danny Martin went to the Co-op in Twydall Green wearing a mask and holding a craft knife. He leapt onto the counter while demanding cash from the till. Staff members handed Martin approximately £1,000 and a quantity of cigarettes and he fled the scene. The staff in the store recognised Martin from his voice and build as he regularly visited the premises to make purchases. Crime Scene Investigators attended the scene and took a copy of a footwear mark he had left on the counter. The following week on 13 November, Martin went to a shop on Delce Road, Rochester. He was carrying a large knife and demanded money was placed into a plastic bag he was carrying. As he leapt onto the counter a member of the public pulled him back causing his jacket to tear. Martin lost his baseball cap and dropped the plastic bag as he ran from the store empty handed. When the bag was forensically examined, Crime Scene Investigators recovered his fingerprints. Martin, formerly of Goudhurst Road, Gillingham, was arrested and officers seized a ripped jacket identical to the one damaged during the second robbery. They also seized trainers that matched the footwear mark at the first incident. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on 10 September 2019. He was sentenced on Monday 28 October to eight years’ imprisonment. The officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Daniel Bister said: ‘These were violent robberies at businesses that serve the local community and Martin showed a complete disregard for the staff present. He miscalculated when targeting premises he regularly visited and this in part led to his downfall. I would like to commend the member of the public who bravely intervened in the last robbery and also all the witnesses who have helped us to bring this man to justice
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