Knifeman who robbed Newbury bookies is jailed

Sentence is "a warning to others" says detective

A THIRTY-five-year-old man has been jailed for more than three years for a knife-point robbery at a bookmakers in Newbury.

Nathan Hoy, from Newtown Road, Newbury, was sentenced to three years and four months for the robbery at the Coral bookmakers, in Essex Street, on September 6, when he appeared at Reading Crown Court yesterday (Thursday).

Hoy, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, entered the store at around 9pm wearing a balaclava type hat and ran to the front counter, where he threatened staff with a knife before leaving with a quantity of cash.

Det Con John Yallop, from Newbury CID, who led the investigation, said: “This was a particularly upsetting incident for the shop staff who were threatened with a 12 inch knife.

“We hope that this sentence brings them some closure and we are happy that Hoy will be locked away for a substantial period of time. I also hope that this sentence serves as a warning to others involved in this type of criminal activity.”