'Moron' robber avoids jail after bungled betting shop raid

A "moron" robber, who did not put his balaclava on until everyone in a Betfred betting shop had seen him, has walked free from court.

Teejay Bick, 29, of Walton, Cardiff, admitted the offence at Gloucester Crown Court after he entered the shop in Cheltenham on March 29 last year, completely undisguised, and told cashier Amy Forsyth a FOBT had swallowed his £20 note.

When Forsyth left the counter to take a look, Bick then pulled a balaclava over his face and demanded money, claiming to have a knife in his pocket.

Prosecutor Virginia Cornwall told how Bick then struggled to adjust the balaclava so he could see out of it, and said that "the eyes were in the wrong place".

Last September Judge Ian Lawrie QC deferred sentencing until this month, telling Bick he needed to "sort himself out" and describing him as a "moron", while defence lawyer Steven Masih admitted it was a "really amateurish" offence.

The judge noted he had nevertheless terrorised the women cashiers in the Betfred on Coronation Square and they believed his threat that he had a knife.

The court was told that one of the cashiers, Leanne Wright, was pregnant.

Compensation provided

Sentencing was deferred by the judge for six months to see if Bick could go straight, tackle his gambling addiction and save £2,700 in order to pay compensation to the two staff members for the incident.

Upon Bick’s return to court this week, Judge Michael Cullum said: "I understand the position is largely positive."

The court heard Bick’s solicitors were holding £2,700 he had saved, which was ready to be transferred to the court to compensate the women, and were provided with a letter confirming his attendance to Gambler’s Anonymous every Wednesday.

They were also told Bick had completed a Construction Skills Certification Scheme and is now working as a builder/labourer.

"That employment has put him in a position where he's earning more money than he did previously," said Masih. "The whole issue behind his offending was his addiction to gambling, and he's positively and proactively acting upon the suggestion of Judge Lawrie."

Suspended sentence

Judge Cullum imposed a two-year jail term but suspended it for 21 months.

He said: "It's quite clear he acknowledged this was a serious offence of robbery. You owed money to someone who would have pressured you, and chose the cowardly way of dealing with it by frightening a pregnant woman.

"That is appalling behaviour, which you recognise, that richly deserves a custodial sentence.

"Balancing the need of rehabilitation and punishment, Judge Lawrie must have concluded the balance fell in favour of suspending the sentence."

Judge Cullum then warned Bick that, if he were to breach the suspended sentence "we're likely without hesitation to send you to prison".

As part of the suspended sentence, Bick was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs of £500.

If you are concerned about your gambling and are worried you may have a problem, click here to find advice on how you can receive help