Robber used imitation gun to threaten Wirral receptionist (From Wirral Globe)

Robber used imitation gun to threaten Wirral receptionist

9:14am Monday 17th September 2012 in News

A drunken man who used an imitation gun to carry out a robbery at a Birkenhead solicitors' office has been jailed for six years. Liverpool Crown Court heard how 44-year-old David Goodacre, looking dishevelled and drunk, went into the Hamilton Square offices of Percy Hughes and Roberts,Square, at 9am, on April 13 this year. He leaned on the desk next to the receptionist and opened his jacket to reveal the handle of a black pistol. She made her excuses and fled to the basement and meanwhile he snatch a Help the Aged charity box from the counter and a promotional pen and left. Police were called and armed officers spotted him nearby and arrested him, said Andrew Ford, prosecuting. When he was searched the officers found he had a plastic toy gun which he said he used to protect himself from "hoodies." Goodacre, who has numerous previous convictions, denied robbery and possessing an imitation gun with intent to commit the offence - but a jury took less than half-an-hour to convict him. The court heard he recently had been released from prison for carrying a knife and his criminal record dated back to 1985 with 121 offences listed, including burglary and possession of class A drugs. Judge Brian Lewis said the victim, who was simply doing her job, was terrified by his actions., “You insinuated your way into her office and in that sneaky way allowed her to see that gun just enough for her to realise that she was in serious trouble. “You have shown no remorse and have twisted and turned at every stage to try to avoid responsibility for what you did that day. “What you were doing was trying to steal a box containing money that had been donated to a charity, which is low enough, but made much worse by the robbery.” John Weate, defending, said Goodacre told police he was sorry if he had frightened anyone but was "desperate for money."