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Toothpaste gun robber gets four years

10:21am Saturday 9th August 2008 in


A robber who used a tube of toothpaste wrapped in a sock to imitate a gun during a raid on a betting shop was sentenced to four years at the Old Bailey yesterday.

Lloyd Wright, 38, from Selsdon Road, Croydon, pleaded guilty to armed robbery following the incident at a bookmakers in Brighton Road, Croydon, on April 14, this year.

Wearing a hood with a scarf around his face, Wright walked into the shop at 9.15pm and pointed the imitation weapon at frightened staff.

He assaulted an employee before fleeing with money, but was caught when another member of staff alerted the police and an off-duty policeman, who saw Wright run out of the shop, gave chase.

The officer followed Wright into an alley in Selsdon Road but even then Wright climbed over garden fences to try and give the officer the brush-off.

But members of the public - on seeing him climbing into their gardens - also called the police.

When police arrived at Wright’s house the off-duty officer was able to identify him.

Wright, sweating heavily, told officers he had been exercising at home, but a house search found a white sports sock with a tube of toothpaste inside it - which exactly matched the description of the weapon used.

Police sniffer dogs were also able to track the route taken by Wright, which led to the back door of his home.

Detective sergeant Paul Bickley, of the specialist crime directorate's flying squad at Tower Bridge, said: “This is an unusual case, but irrespective of the weapon used the experience of the victims is often traumatic and affects them long after the crime has been committed.

“This case demonstrates the Met working at it's best, with uniformed officers and specialist units working together to identify suspects and gather evidence to convict offenders. The off-duty officer also demonstrated great dedication and bravery in chasing Wright, not knowing what weapon he was carrying.”

Comments(18)

scoffer says...
12:31pm Sat 9 Aug 08

Another moron from Selsdon...

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HolySmoke says...
2:16pm Sat 9 Aug 08

Who´s the other one? Its Ok I think I might have a clue.
Selsdon road commences in South Croydon near the Brighton road. Only 4 years for robbery?

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ANNE GILES says...
10:31pm Sat 9 Aug 08

I live in Selsdon, but it isn't me. I'm going to be very careful with tubes of toothpaste from now on, though. Never realised how lethal they were. I shall let my dentist know.I wonder what the next robber will use - a bar of soap strapped to a hair brush?

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scoffer says...
2:21pm Sun 10 Aug 08

It just shows you the type of person that could easily be residing in a nice area like Selsdon... shock ! horror !

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ANNE GILES says...
10:13pm Sun 10 Aug 08

Scoffer, please - I am quite nice. And I use Colgate, if you're interested.

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scoffer says...
8:23am Mon 11 Aug 08

Stop it... the scoffer is only on here to check out the news stories from the CG and see what comments or drivel has been left by it's reader base... you need some meat in your diet... the scoffer knows this... chomp ! chomp !

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Chloe says...
10:21am Mon 11 Aug 08

I'm sure referring to yourself in the third person is a sign that you are going mad?

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scoffer says...
12:15pm Mon 11 Aug 08

Why have you been treated for it then ? did it work ??

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ANNE GILES says...
6:25pm Mon 11 Aug 08

More meat? I lived in Buenos Aires for 25 years - two steaks a day - lunch and dinner. On Saturday night we went to the Buenos Aires restaurant in Purley to celebrate my husband's 62nd birthday - and had two steaks each, plus Argentine Malbec and a free glass of champagne each. Unfortunately, although the champagne was quite scrumptuous, I had to leave half of it, as I was driving. We took the half full bottle of Malbec to finish off at home.

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scoffer says...
10:23am Tue 12 Aug 08

I think you were very near, or over the current drink drive limit...

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ANNE GILES says...
10:27pm Tue 12 Aug 08

One glass of wine and half a glass of champagne. Is that too much??

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HolySmoke says...
12:56am Wed 13 Aug 08

I dont think those Robin Reliants count, do they Anne....you know, the ones with TIT´s on the side, thats....Trotters Independant Trader´s, what else could I have meant..hehe.




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HolySmoke says...
1:08am Wed 13 Aug 08

What has any of this got to do with the Phantom Toothpaste Duellist of Old Croydon..



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ANNE GILES says...
9:47pm Wed 13 Aug 08

HolySmoke wrote:
I dont think those Robin Reliants count, do they Anne....you know, the ones with TIT´s on the side, thats....Trotters Independant Trader´s, what else could I have meant..hehe.
I don't understand this comment at all. Please explain.

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HolySmoke says...
11:00pm Wed 13 Aug 08

Its a joke Anne. Do you know who Trotters Independant Traders are or is that before your time?

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ANNE GILES says...
5:16pm Sat 16 Aug 08

I have never heard of them.

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HolySmoke says...
7:59pm Sun 17 Aug 08

Just pulling your leg Anne, it was about the car that they drive, a Robin Reliant, you have no idea what that is do you?, no offence intended, really.


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Bob Peel says...
9:10am Tue 19 Aug 08

scoffer wrote:
Another moron from Selsdon...
"We took the half full bottle of Malbec to finish off at home."

I'll bet you're real fun when inebriated Anne.

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