Betting shop robber pleads guilty

Betting shop robber pleads guilty

27 January 2012

A man, who used many disguises as he robbed betting shops across the South East, has pleaded guilty to seven armed robberies and an attempted robbery.

Martin Joseph Reilly, 53, of no fixed address, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 27 January charged with nine robberies in which £23,000 was stolen, two attempted robberies, eight offences of possessing a firearm whilst committing an indictable offence, and two of possessing an offensive weapon. He pleaded not guilty to two robberies and one of the attempted robberies.

Reilly sparked a nationwide manhunt after committing the robberies across seven forces, including four in Sussex. What is distinctive about him is that he used fancy dress disguises - wigs, hats, false beards, moustaches and sideburns to alter his appearance and to hide scarring on his cheeks, particularly horseshoe-like scarring on his left hand cheek.

 
Sussex led the hunt to find Reilly when it became clear that he was responsible for robberies in Northants, Hampshire, Surrey, Bedfordshire, London and Essex. We shared information, intelligence and leads to help find him and put a stop to his robbery series.

DI Ian Still, who led the investigation, said: "This sends a strong message to anyone looking to commit an offence in Sussex. No stone will be left unturned in tracking them down and they will face a significant sentence when caught.

"This was a demanding investigation but one of which was particularly satisfying, knowing that we have stopped them from reoffending and there will be no further victims."

He pleaded guilty to robberies at:
-  Ladbrokes in Brighton on 11 July, in which £2780 was stolen;
- Ladbrokes in Eastbourne on 18 July, in which £2780 was stolen;
- Ladbrokes in Woking, Surrey on 3 August , in which £2780 was stolen;
- Labrokes in Portsmouth, Hants, on 30 August, in which £3500 was stolen;
- Corals in Westcliff, Essex on 20 September, in which £2500 was stolen;
- Ladbrokes in Bedford on 28 September, in which £640 was stolen;
- Ladbrokes in Baker Street, London W1, on 10 October, in which £2500 was stolen.
And an attempted robbery at William Hill in Hove on 7 July;
He pleaded not guilty to a robbery in Kettering on 13 June, a robbery at Corals, Bedford on 17 June and an attempted robbery at Betfred in Eastbourne on 17 July

He will appear at Lewes Crown Court on 2 April  to be sentenced.