Shrewsbury robber in bungled river escape bid
A fleeing robber who jumped into the River Severn in Shrewsbury in a bungled bid to escape police has admitted a string of offences on the day of the chase.
Troy Hevingham pleaded guilty to robbing a jewellers, assaulting Constable Simon Portman and burgling a house in Shrewsbury before running from officers and leaping into the water.
But police officers lined the riverbank ready for his arrest and apprehended him, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
The 38-year-old appeared at court yesterday via video link from prison.
He also confessed to being the sweet-toothed robber who stole £50 and swiped a handful of Snickers on his way out of Ditherington News in Mount Pleasant Road on October 28.
Before jumping into the river on November 3, he had burst into Snooty Fox jewellers on Wyle Cop and demanded money – leaving with £180 in cash. He fled in the direction of Kingsland but was spotted by a police officer whom he assaulted on Kingsland Bridge when he challenged him.
Hevingham then broke into the boatman's house at Shrewsbury School where he stole a bank letter.
Hevingham, of High Street in Clive, near Wem, entered guilty pleas to two counts of robbery and charges of burglary and common assault.
The case was adjourned for a report to be prepared by the probation service. Hevingham will be sentenced in the week starting December 1.
Chief Inspector Tom Harding said: "I'd like to praise the good response of officers who attended the scene and flooded the riverbank to make sure we got the man out safely and secured arrest.
"It was following the excellent work of Constable Simon Portman that Hevingham was challenged and subsequently arrested."
