Two men jailed following string of violent robberies in Ipswich
Two men have been jailed following a string of violent robberies at business premises in Ipswich.
Kwasi Jacobs, 44, and Barrington Aitkens, 42, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.
Jacobs, of Grimwade Street, Ipswich, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years as the court considered him to be a dangerous offender.
He was told he will have to spend a minimum of eight years in prison before he can be considered for parole.
Aitkens was sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment.
Jacobs had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and Aitkens, of no fixed address, had admitted one count of robbery.
The first crime happened between 5pm and 5.15pm on July 15 last summer at a betting shop in Carr Street, where Jacobs entered the premises and waited for other customers to leave.
He then jumped over the counter, grabbed a female member of staff by the arms and made her open the safe, stealing over £1,000.
He then forced the victim into a staff toilet and made threats he would harm her if she called for help.
The second offence took place at around 8.30pm four days later at a convenience shop in Felixstowe Road.
Jacobs again jumped over the counter and grabbed a female shop assistant by the neck, before stealing all the cash from the till.
The victim suffered scratches to her neck as a result of the attack.
The final incident was at a convenience shop in Clapgate Lane at around 3.30pm on July 21.
Jacobs went into the shop, closed the door behind him and then assaulted a male member of staff by punching him repeatedly before dragging him across the floor by his t-shirt and forcing him to open the till.
He then stole cash, along with cigarettes and alcohol.
While the attack was taking place, Aitkens effectively stood guard outside the door preventing other people from entering the shop.
He was seen on CCTV to look inside through the glass in the door so was fully aware of what was taking place and when Jacobs exited the shop, he was seen to hand Aitkens two bottles of alcohol.
Police were called and Jacobs was quickly identified as a suspect.
He was located and arrested by officers around 30 minutes later and charged the following day.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment with a broken jaw and nose, along with cuts and bruising to his face.
Once Aitkens was identified as also having been involved with the final robbery, he was arrested by officers on August 13 and charged the following day.
PC Tristram Singh of South CID, said: “Kwasi Jacobs went on a violent spree targeting vulnerable lone workers to steal money, along with alcohol and cigarettes.
"He not only caused trauma and serious injury to the victims but substantial losses to local businesses.
"The victims I have spoken to were terrified during the attacks and I applaud their bravery in reliving the encounters to secure the conviction.
"Whilst Barrington Aitkens may have appeared on the face of it to act as a look out, if it was not for his presence during the robbery in Clapgate Lane, the particularly violent assault against the shop worker there could potentially have been stopped by customers trying to enter the shop.
"I hope the sentences handed down today act as a warning to violent offenders such as Jacobs and also to accomplices such as Aitkens, that we will not tolerate cowardly acts of this nature – be assured we will do everything we can to find you and bring you to justice."
