Woodley bank robbery: Man jailed for stealing £600k

Dressed in a black balaclava and puffer jacket, Shaun Atkins threatened three bank tellers to open a safe in Crockhamwell Road on January 18 this year.

The 40-year-old stole about £370,000, €270,000 and $550 in cash from the safe before running to the car park opposite the bank.

READ MORE: Elderly lady who abused emergency lines sent to jail

He was then tasered by a police constable after trying to flee from the officers and was subsequently arrested.

At Reading Crown Court on Monday (May 22), he was jailed for eight years – reduced from 12 years for pleading guilty.

Prosecuting, Michael Speak said the incident happened at about 8.30am when the female bank tellers were preparing to open the bank.

He was originally with an accomplish who fled the scene after one of the bank tellers started screaming and activated a silent alarm.

Mr Speak told the court: “[The bank teller] fell to the floor screaming and crying and the defendant put his hand over her mouth and said, ‘Stop screaming, I’m not going to hurt you. I just want the money. I’ve been watching you, I know where you live, I know your family members’.

READ MORE: Elderly man in court for breaking his 'vulnerable' wife's leg

“He asked for the safe to be opened..[the bank teller] started putting money in a bag he was carrying.”

Atkins, of no fixed abode, then ran to a car park when two constables caught him. He was compliant at first and appeared to be saying, ‘They f*****g left me’.

He then tried to run while being handcuffed and was subsequently tasered.

Since the incident, the three bank employees have had to receive counselling and have struggled to return to work.

The court heard that Atkins has previous convictions including being jailed for 14 years in 2012 for holding a family hostage in attempts to rob the home – including pouring hot water over the legs, stomach and head of one of the victims.

Defending Atkins, his counsel said Atkins had invested in cryptocurrency using borrowed money from ‘criminal associates’ and eventually owed them £107,000.

The court heard he tried to pay the money back with his job in construction and house clearing but stated threats to his life were made and he was fearful due to friends being ‘murdered’ by the same people.

READ MORE: In the Dock: Man assaulted two police officers latest in court

His counsel said the only other alternative to robbery was committing suicide.

Sentencing, Judge Sarah Campbell imprisoned him for eight years with an extended licence of four years.