Betfred and William Hill staff threatened during robberies

Gary Barker held up three bookies in Mottingham and Elephant and Castle between February and April. 

The first took place at around 10am on February 23 at Betfred near Elephant and Castle station. 

Barker, 37, entered the shop and handed a staff member a note which said “give me the cash, I have a gun I will shoot”. 

Barker ran off empty-handed when the shop assistant pressed the panic button, prosecutor Jonathan Gold said. 

In a victim statement, the staff member said: “In my time working for Betfred I’ve never had this happen to me. I didn’t know if he had a gun or not, I thought I might be shot. 

“It’s made me think about whether I want to keep doing this job.” 

Around a month later, on March 22, Barker struck again – this time at William Hill just around the corner from his first attempt. 

This time he followed a female shop assistant inside as she opened the shop in the morning. 

Before she could get behind the restricted area Barker grabbed hold of her and demanded money, Mr Gold said. 

The terrified woman saw Barker was holding a sharp object but he told her “I’m not going to hurt you, I just want the money”. 

Barker stole £340 from the cash drawer before running away. 

Barker's second robbery took place at William Hill in Elephant and Castle (Image: Google)

He then struck again just a few days later on March 28, this time at Betfred on Cranley Parade, Mottingham. 

Again, he followed a female shop assistant in as she opened in the morning. 

“The defendant ran at her as she rushed to get behind the counter. She tried to close the door but he got his arm in the gap and prised the door open,” Mr Gold said. 

“She pushed back but when he told her ‘I’ve got a knife’ she stopped pushing.” 

Barker then entered the secure area and said “give me the money” before showing her a bladed weapon. 

After taking over £5,500 in cash Barker fled the shop and dumped a meat cleaver in a nearby bin. 

Betfred on Cranley Parade, Mottingham (Image: Google) Barker, of St Julian’s Farm Road in Norwood, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to two robberies, one attempted robbery and possession of a bladed article. 

He appeared at Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (June 20). 

Defending Barker in court, barrister Mr Wallace said his client had lived a chaotic and difficult life. 

He has a long history of criminal convictions including convictions for threats to kill, robbery and attempted burglary in 2021, for which he was given a three-year sentence. 

Mr Wallace said: “Mr Barker has been in custody for some months now and it is right to say that whatever difficulties the prison estate is experiencing right now, for him being in custody is a calmer and more structured way of life.” 

He added that Barker has been locked in the “familiar cycle” of drug addiction, prison, debt and then being released into difficult circumstances. 

After his most recent prison sentence he was released into an approved premises with former associates he owed money to. 

“He was living in a state that is very far removed from the stable lives that most people live,” Mr Wallace said. 

He added that Barker is no longer under the influence of drugs. 

Gary Barker (Image: Met Police)

“He thinks over and over again, especially about the two female complainants, how they are somebody’s mother or daughter, how they were just going to work, and he knows he must have petrified them,” Mr Wallace said. 

Recorder Haythorne told Barker: “Your criminality has left your victims with psychological scars. You’ve accepted today that you’ve left them petrified.” 

Barker was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.