Jail for Headington armed robber (From The Oxford Times)

Jail for Headington armed robber

6:10am Tuesday 17th March 2009 in News By Ellie Simmonds

A MASKED robber who threatened shopkeepers and bank staff with an imitation handgun was yesterday jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Leigh Cooper used the fake firearm and a knife to threaten his victims during the spate of five robberies in Headington, Oxford.

The 27-year-old stole a total £1,487 during an 11-day spree at the end of December and the beginning of January — targeting a betting shop, a bank, an off-licence and a bus driver.

Cooper, a schizophrenic drug addict, burst into Betfred bookmakers in London Road, Headington, about 8.15pm on December 29.

He threatened two members of staff with the handle of a kitchen grill, taped to a tripod to make it look like a gun, and demanded they handed over cash before fleeing on his bicycle with £100.

But he returned to the same betting shop five days later, forced his way in, and stole a further £60.

The following day, Cooper threatened staff in Threshers, also in Headington, with a knife at about 7.25pm and fled with £200.

Matthew Walsh, prosecuting at Oxford Crown Court, said staff member John Kinimba tried to tackle Cooper, but was threatened with a knife and ordered to open the safe.

He said: “He genuinely feared for his life.”

Just 24 hours later Cooper struck again, this time at the Headington branch of Lloyds Bank in London Road.

He stole £1,060 from two tills at closing time, threatening staff with his fake gun.

And three days later he threatened a bus driver in Barton with a knife before escaping with £67.

The robbery led to his arrest – after he was followed back to a friend’s flat in nearby Brome Place.

Mr Walsh said: “These were a series of armed robberies which happened in a short period of time, causing some fear in the area. He often arrived and departed on a bike wearing a disguise.”

Cooper, of Banbury Road, Oxford, admitted five charges of robbery and one of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He also asked for three burglaries to be taken into consideration when sentencing.

Peter Du Feu, defending, told the court: “These are fairly desperate offences.

“They are unsophisticated, but very scary for the victims.“ He said Cooper, who has a history of mental illness and prompted a police search when he escaped from the Warneford Hospital in December 2007, was genuinely remorseful.

Jailing him, Judge Julian Hall said: “You committed a series of robberies in a very small geographical area in a very small space of time.

”You were armed and you were disguised.

“These offences were fuelled by heroin addiction.

“If you can put that behind you it may be that you never do anything like this again.”

Speaking outside court, Det Insp Simon Morton said: “These offences caused real concern for the community in Headington.

He added: “We hope this result reassures the community and shows we are taking positive action to deal with serious crime in the area.”