Crawley Knife Crime: Man Jailed for Nearly 4 Years After Violent Robberies
A Crawley crook has been slammed with a 44-month prison term after admitting to a string of nasty offences — including burglary, robbery, and carrying knives in public.
Shocking Attacks on Elderly and Shop Staff
Michael Hooper’s crime spree struck twice in Crawley last year. On April 10th, he targeted an elderly man at a cash machine. When the pensioner refused to hand over cash, Hooper shoved him and yanked money from his hand before 1 off.
Less than two months later, Hooper returned with violence. On May 22nd, he tried to buy whisky at a newsagent but his card was declined. So he swiped a bottle and bolted. Moments later, the thug stormed back brandishing two Stanley knives. He threatened staff, grabbed two more bottles, then fled the shop.
CCTV Captures Criminal, Swift Justice Delivered
CCTV footage nailed Hooper as the culprit in both attacks. He pleaded guilty to all five charges and was locked up for 44 months at Lewes Crown Court on February 24th.
Inspector Steve Turner of Crawley Neighbourhood Policing said: “While Hooper fully admitted the offences in police interview, it does not lessen the impact on the victims, who understandably feared for their own safety. Thankfully we were able to quickly identify him from the CCTV footage, and this demonstrates the value of our officers regularly patrolling the town and being able to recognise people of interest.”
Zero Tolerance on Knife Crime
Inspector Turner added a clear warning: “This case should serve as a reminder that we absolutely will not tolerate knife crime, and anyone caught in possession of a knife in public can expect to be dealt with robustly.”
