Man sent to prison for St Albans robbery

A St Albans man was sentenced to three years and seven months imprisonment for robbery at St Albans Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 May).

Gary Jakeman, age 34, of no fixed abode, but previously from St Albans, was handed the sentence for stealing cash from an elderly man outside Morrisons on Hatfield Road on 28 February last year. 

The man, aged in his 80s, was using the ATM and had made three cash withdrawals at 3.25pm.  The court heard that Jakeman was loitering by the cash machine on his bike and tried to put his hand in the victim’s pocket to steal his money.  However, the victim resisted and, as a result of the force used by Jakeman, he was knocked to the ground.  Jakeman took £80 as money fell out of the man’s pocket whilst he was on the ground and cycled away.

Detective Constable Zoe Austwick said: “An impact statement read out on behalf of the victim described how he still feels unsafe to go out on his own having lost his self-confidence and he has not used a cashpoint machine since. The victim’s physical and emotional wellbeing have been adversely affected by the robbery.”

She said: “Jakeman’s prolific offending history was taken into consideration and the fact that this was an acquisitive crime undertaken in order to fund a long-standing drug habit. We have supported the victim and we hope this sentence also reassures the local community.”