Life sentence for Macclesfield armed robber

A man who carried out an armed robbery in Macclesfield has been jailed for life.

Martin Dawson, 51, of no fixed address, walked into a building society on Castle Street on 29 August 2013 armed with an imitation firearm and demanded money from staff.

He was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday 20 November 2014 for this, and a second armed robbery which took place at a building society in Newport on 29 June 2013.

On both occasions Dawson made off with sizeable amounts of cash.

Dawson was arrested in the Stoke-on-Trent area on 15 October 2013 following a joint investigation between Cheshire Constabulary and West Mercia Police.

He was charged with both offences on 18 October 2014 and the case went to trial. Dawson was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of nine years.

DC James Bowbeer of Runcorn CID said: “This was a particularly pleasing result especially for the victims who underwent this ordeal.”

“Given his previous offending history it was clear that he would have gone on to commit further offences putting the public at risk. A life tariff is an appropriate sentence given the circumstances and the public can be re-assured by this.”

Inspector Dafydd Jones, of West Mercia Police, said: “I hope this sentencing shows West Mercia Police′s priority of protecting people from harm and bringing offenders to justice. “Dawson was a danger to the public and it is a great result that he is now behind bars. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the witnesses involved in this case who had to relive this distressing event.”