Armed robber in Thornton Heath given 10 years for bank and shop raids

A man has been jailed for 10 years for committing three robberies, two of them while he was armed.

Dorian Rankin – 42, of Beulah Road, Thornton Heath, was sentenced on Thursday at Inner London Crown Court.

He had pleaded guilty at the same court on December 16 to seven offences.

The first robbery he committed was at H & T Pawnbrokers in Walworth Road on November 16, 2021, before he went on to carry out two armed robberies – one at Betfred bookmakers in Rye Lane, Peckham on January 13 and another at Lloyds Bank in Sydenham Road, on February 14.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm with intention to commit an offence, driving whilst disqualified on May 26 in Beulah Road, and of illegally possessing or controlling identity documents with intent to commit an offence.

In the first raid, Rankin forcibly stole a gold necklace valued at about £10,000 from staff.

In the bookmakers raid, Rankin stole a quantity of cash after threatening staff, and did the same at the bank the following month, threatening staff with a firearm.

Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad launched an investigation and managed to identify Rankin as the suspect. He was arrested on August 18 and charged.

DC Craig Prout said: “Rankin is a coward who used a firearm to threaten and intimidate innocent members of staff.

“This conviction shows how seriously we treat such offending, and those who choose to carry out criminal acts will be identified and convicted.

“Anyone with information about those who use weapons to rob or intimidate people can provide information anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, via 0800 555 111.

“They do not ask your name or trace your IP address.”

Pictured top: Dorian Rankin, 42, has been jailed for 10 years for armed robbery (Picture: The Met)