Fake Gun Robber Caught After Bold Brighton Heist
Police were called to a TUI shop on North Street, Brighton, on the morning of 22 October 2018 after a man brazenly threatened staff with a fake gun.
Note Demands Cash With Threat of Gun
The suspect approached the counter holding a handwritten note that read: “Pass the money, I am not joking. I have a gun pointed at you, don’t mess about.” Believing the threat was real, the staff member handed over a sum of cash before the man calmly walked out.
Suspect Leaves Clues Behind, Flees Country
After the robbery, the man headed to a nearby pub and accidentally left a bag containing personal documents, including his birth certificate. Inside were rolled-up papers thought to mimic a gun. The thief was identified as 55-year-old Ian Jowett from Peterborough.
Jowett later fled the UK, boarding a ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. He carried out similar robberies in the Netherlands and Belgium, landing him in prison abroad.
Six Years Behind Bars for Cross-Continent Crook
Upon release, Jowett returned to the UK where he was promptly arrested and charged with robbery. He pled guilty and was sentenced to six years in Lewes Crown Court on 30 July.
Detective Constable Dan Aubrey-Smith said: “This has been a long and complex investigation – not helped by Jowett’s attempts to evade capture – but one which we were determined to see through.
“Robbery is an extremely serious offence which we will not take lightly; anyone caught and convicted of such an offence can expect to face the full force of the law.”
