Masked robber jailed after threatening staff at bookmakers with a claw hammer in terrifying raid
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This is the moment a masked robber armed with a claw hammer left two women terrified during a raid at a bookmakers.
CCTV shows Thomas Brand bursting into a branch of Coral and threatening the workers with the weapon as he demanded cash.
After Brand warned them not to touch anything, both victims were frozen with fear and too scared to press the panic alarm .
He fled the scene on a bike but was snared when police followed his getaway route on CCTV and found his ski mask, together with his DNA, Chronicle Live reports.
(Photo: North News)
(Photo: Northumbria Police)
Brand has a previous conviction for conspiracy to murder.
Now the 45-year-old raider, who also admitted targeting fruit machines during raids on pubs, has been jailed for four years at Newcastle Crown Court.
Judge Amanda Rippon told him: “Those two women will live with what you did that day for the rest of their lives.
“It will effect their work at the bookmakers and it will, no doubt, visit them in their dreams.
“I’m pleased to hear you have watched the CCTV and acknowledge the fear and distress you have caused those women.”
Brand targeted the branch of Coral in Sunderland on December 10, fleeing with more than £600.
One of victims said: “To be confronted by a masked male brandishing a hammer is a very frightening situation to be in.”
(Photo: Northumbria Police)
(Photo: Northumbria Police)
The court heard one of the women can be seen on CCTV breaking down in tears when Brand leaves the shop.
Brand, of Brandling Street, Roker, Sunderland, pleaded guilty robbery.
He also admitted a burglary at the Lambton Worm pub in Sunderland last October after he and an accomplice were caught fleeing the pub in the early hours of the morning after smashing their way in.
(Photo: Northumbria Police)
The court heard a window was smashed during the raid and Brand dropped a bag containing £151 in pound coins taken from a fruit machine as he ran off.
He was on bail for the break-in when he committed the bookies raid.
Brand then carried out a second pub burglary at the Hastings Hill pub in Sunderland in the early hours of December 30.
The court heard he and an accomplice caused £800 of damage when they smashed their way in to the bar and made off with a fruit machine.
He pleaded guilty to burglary.
Jamie Adams, defending, said Brand, who has 158 previous convictions, had started taking cocaine after finding it hard to get a job after his release from a 12 year sentence for conspiracy to murder, imposed in 2003.
Mr Adams added: “To see two women being frightened by his behaviour really made him feel very ashamed.
“He is determined to sort himself out.”