Shropshire bank and shop raids: Armed robber jailed for seven years

33-year-old Mark Gillon was arrested after a string of offences across Shifnal, Market Drayton and Telford when he walked into banks and shops with the imitation gun and demanded money.

Gillon, of no fixed abode, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court today after pleading guilty to one count of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and two counts of possession of an imitation firearm.

He also admitted one count of theft of a motor vehicle and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.

Gillon was charged on March 28 this year, just days after the two-day robberies that began on March 24 when he walked into Barclays Bank in Market Square, Shifnal, armed with an imitation firearm and ordered staff to hand over money.

Quick-thinking staff operated a smoke alarm and nothing was taken during the robbery.

After leaving the bank Gillon headed to Tudor Way, Shifnal, where he forced a woman out of her car before leaving the scene in her vehicle.

The same night, he used that vehicle in an armed robbery at One Stop shop on Shrewsbury Road, in Market Drayton.

There, he entered the store and threatened staff with an imitation handgun before leaving with a quantity of cash.

The next day, on March 25, he stole registration plates from a vehicle in Telford which he used to alter the registration of the vehicle he had stolen the day before.

Gillon pleaded not guilty to a robbery at Lloyd's Bank in Madeley, Telford and not guilty to possession of an imitation firearm relating to the robbery. The court has ruled that these offences will lay on file.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Mat Crisp said: "Fortunately nobody was hurt in either of the robberies and theft of the car, but many local businesses and residents have been left shaken by Gillon's selfish and thoughtless campaign.

"He showed no regard for the businesses and people he targeted and while Gillon admitted his guilt in court, the staff in the businesses were left terrified by the use of a firearm, which thankfully we later discovered was an imitation.

"Thanks to the public's response to our witness appeal and witnesses coming forward we were able to quickly identify Gillon and bring him before the courts.

"I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while we carried out our enquiries. Fortunately these type of offences are rare and I hope that today's sentencing reassures the public that this dangerous individual is now behind bars."