Man jailed for series of armed robberies in Derby

Andrew Fulop, of no fixed address, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment at after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery and three counts of possession of an imitation firearm during the incidents.

The 41-year-old targeted Ladbrokes betting shop, on Monk Street, on Friday 23 April. He waited in a booth until other customers had left before walking up to the till, passing the attendant a slip.

He rested the barrels of the imitation gun on the counter and demanded cash from both members of staff- shouting at them to go faster, before riding off on his bicycle.

On Saturday 24 April, Fulop walked into the Sainsbury’s store on Farm Street, approaching the counter and threatening the member of staff with the imitation firearm through his top- saying he would ‘blow her head off’.

He came back to the same store on Monday 26 April and again threatened a member of staff with what she believed to be a shotgun down his sleeve. She screamed and tried to activate the alarm but he managed to grab cash from the till before running off.

Fingerprints were discovered at each of the scenes, linking Fulop to the incidents.

Detective Inspector Pete Hundal, who helped oversee the investigation, said: “You cannot imagine the fear each member of staff must have felt when they were faced with what they believed was a shotgun, and subsequent distress it must have caused.

“There is no excuse for putting those workers through such a frightening ordeal, and we would like to thank all the victims and witnesses who supported our investigation.

DI Hundal added: “We welcome this custodial sentence which we hope will deter others from committing such offences and will not be tolerated in our communities.”

He was sentenced to a total of nine years, and three years extended licence, on Wednesday 1 December at Derby Crown Court.