East Midlands Co-op robber jailed for 21 years
A robber who targeted Co-op stores in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire has been jailed for 21 years.
Modou Ndow, 41, of Westwood Road, Nottingham, used a knife and an imitation handgun in the raids between November 2009 and June 2010.
He was earlier convicted of eight robberies, an assault and four counts of possessing an imitation firearm.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Ndow, who denied the charges, had worked as a security guard at several of the shops.
The court was told Ndow targeted Co-op stores in Sneinton, Radford, Carlton, Sherwood, Lowdham, Carrington and Long Eaton.
In the first five robberies, he threatened staff with a knife before stealing cash, but then used a handgun during the robberies in Lowdham, Carrington and Long Eaton.
He was arrested in June following the robbery at Long Eaton.
Temporary Det Insp Rob McKinnell, who led the investigation into the robberies, said: "Ndow got away with more than £21,000 during the course of these offences, and progressed from threatening staff with a knife to using an imitation firearm to intimidate them into handing over money.
"This escalation, and the fact that he was prepared to use physical violence, clearly demonstrates that he is a dangerous man who was prepared to take extreme measures to get what he wanted."