Serving prisoner took part in Machynlleth robbery while on day release
Saturday 17th September 2011, 7:39PM BST.
A man serving a 12-year sentence for attempted murder was involved in a terrifying robbery when he was allowed out of prison on day release.
Micquel Daviel France, 24, was picked up outside Sudbury Prison and then took part in a ‘reconnaissance mission’ in Machynlleth.
He was allowed out again the following day and was one of two men who robbed security guard Christopher Tarbuck as he delivered cash to the town’s branch of Barclays Bank. France and 26-year-old Mark Ricardo Lawlor got away with £13,000 and 200 Euros.
The gang was tracked to Welshpool by police, where the white Mercedes BMW they were travelling in was stopped and all three occupants fled. France, from Birmingham, was arrested a short time later and Lawlor was arrested at his home in Solihull. The cash was recovered.
Both admitted committing robbery at a hearing at Mold Crown Court yesterday. The judge, Mr Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones, remanded both in custody for sentence and said their case would be linked to that of a third man who had since been charged.
CCTV footage played during the hearing showed Mr Tarbuck being followed into the bank, where he was pushed to the floor and the cash box snatched. It was the third time Mr Tarbuck had been robbed while carrying out his duties in a three-and-a-half year period, the court heard.
The court was told Lawlor ran into the bank wearing a mask while France stopped anyone entering or leaving.
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They say people are reformed after doing time in Prison, and day release helps them to adjust to getting out of prison.
This is a fine example that it just does not work,and its about time we got tougher with all prisoners, if they get 12years, then its 12 years nothing less and not given away days.
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I’m sure poor Mr Tarbuck will have plenty of words of advice to give to anyone who thinks the system is still too hard on poor, misunderstood criminals !!!!
There’s not a lot else you can really say about this without getting very, very angry.
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