Two jailed for Buntingford robbery
It happened during the early hours of Saturday 8 February.
Two men have been jailed at St Albans Crown Court today after pleading guilty to a “terrifying” robbery at a store in Buntingford.
The incident occurred at the 24-hour Budgens in Baldock Road, during the early hours of Saturday 8 February this year.
Thirty-year-old Marc McAllister and Gary Farrow, aged 37, approached the store shortly before 1am and knocked at the front door, prompting a staff member to unlock it, in order to serve them.
Once the door was opened, McAllister entered, threatened the shop worker with a firearm and directed him to the till area, while Farrow acted as a look out.
The till drawer was stolen, before the pair made off. It was found discarded in Bowling Green Lane car park, with more than £800 cash missing from inside.
An investigation was launched by the East Herts Criminal Investigation Department (CID), with many hours of CCTV footage being reviewed.
McAllister, of Spencer Close, Buntingford, was subsequently identified as a suspect and was arrested after a warrant was executed at his home address on Friday 14 February. An air weapon was recovered during the operation.
Farrow, from Pegram Drive, Buntingford, was arrested at his home eight days later.
Both were charged, remanded, and pleaded guilty to robbery.
McAllister was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison, while Farrow was jailed for three years and nine months. Both men were also given restraining orders preventing them from entering the store.
Detective Sergeant Adam Haines, from the East Herts CID, said: “Thankfully the victim wasn’t hurt during the incident but CCTV footage from inside the store shows just how shaken he was by what happened. The judge commented what a ‘terrifying ordeal’ this must have been for him.
“He added that ‘considerable planning’ had gone into the robbery and that it was a ‘joint enterprise’.
“Phone downloads revealed that the suspects had communicated about the incident and conducted internet searches, to ascertain whether any information had been released about the incident, before police or others had issued any details publicly.
“This evidence, in tandem with damning forensic evidence and CCTV footage, which showed the pair completing a recce prior to the incident, played a big part in securing the guilty pleas.
“I’m pleased that the pair are now behind bars.”