Armed robber who wore see-through veil as disguise jailed

An armed robber who held up a bookies wearing a see-through veil which meant police could still recognise him on CCTV has been jailed for four years.

Michael Clough, 20, donned a baseball cap and draped the garment over his face before raiding William Hill in Leeds, West Yorkshire, brandishing an imitation handgun. He escaped with £400 but was soon apprehended after police viewed the CCTV footage.

Det Sgt Marcus Dawson and local neighbourhood officer PC Carl Wilson knew Clough and immediately recognised him through the attempted disguise.



Clough was arrested at his flat, a few hundred yards from the scene of the robbery. Officers also discovered two black handguns an air pistol and a gas-powered ball bearing gun in an aftershave box on a dressing table in Clough's bedroom. Clough admitted robbery and possessing an imitation handgun.

Austin Newman, prosecuting, said during the robbery in May this year Clough had pointed the gun under a glass security screen and ordered William Hill relief manager James Wilson to hand over cash.

Richard Reed, mitigating at Leeds Crown Court, said: "It's not a well planned robbery. His mask wasn't particularly good. When he turns to the side you can almost see straight through it. That is how the officers who knew him were able to identify him."