Luton man threatened staff with knife and hammer during robberies
Ahmed Shah has been jailed for 6 years following the robberies in January
Ahmed Shah, 37, of Denbigh Road, Luton was jailed for two robberies on 10 January and 11 January and a theft committed around a month before.
He received his sentence at Luton Crown Court on Monday (4 September).
On 10 January Shah targeted a petrol station in Trinity Road and threatened a member of staff using a hammer. After staff opened the till Shah took around ÂŁ650 and left.
The next day, Shah entered a convenience shop in Limbury Road and used a knife to threaten a staff member and to tried to pry open the till drawer.
The staff member then challenged Shah who pushed them over, causing injuries. He was unsuccessful in opening the till so he unplugged the machine and left with it, pushing a bystander on his way out.
As he left his personal documents at the first crime scene and was captured on CCTV, his identity was known to the police immediately.
A warrant was carried out at Shah’s home address the next day and although evidence was seized, he was not present at the location.
Nevertheless, extensive police enquiries pressured Shah into handing himself in on 13 January.
Shah was convicted of two counts of robbery, theft, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a bladed article and assault.
PC Adam Geary, who investigated Shah’s crime spree, said: “Shah was clearly motivated by making easy money by causing distress and misery to the hardworking staff members of the shops he targeted. He was not very careful and left documents containing his home address at one of the locations.
“We are satisfied with the lengthy sentence imposed by the court reflecting the seriousness of Shah’s offences. Hopefully he will take this time to contemplate his choices and perhaps choose to improve his life and leave the path of crime.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the bravery of the victims in each of Shah’s robberies. Being held at a knifepoint is a terrifying experience which will stay with the victims for a lifetime. Thanks to their cooperation we were able to gather staggering amount of evidence which brought him to justice.”