by Annette Wilson

A getaway driver for an armed gang carrying out heists on security vans was a convict on the run!

Jason Colliver,30, was serving a 10-year jail term - when he strolled out of an open prison.
Four months later, he had joined a three-man gang shadowing security guards delivering cash to building societies.

The robbers - armed with sledgehammers - smashed their way into a Halifax bank in Ramsgate in October last year - escaping with £32,000 in cash.
Two weeks later, they carried out a copycat attack at a Halifax in New Milton, this time netting £102,000.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard that when they were carrying out their third attack in November - the police were waiting
The gang were trailed from London to Ramsgate, Broadstairs and then Canterbury.

Prosecutor Christopher May said: "Colliver, together with others, was involved in organised, planned and professional robberies of security guards delivering large sum of cash from security vans during the Autumn of 2008."

Colliver - who is now serving the rest of his 10 year jail term in Belmarsh - watched on prison CCTV as details of his attacks were outlined.
He had absconded from Ford Open Prison on June 3 2008 while serving his sentence for conspiracy to rob. He had completed five years.
Colliver, of north London, pleaded guilty to two robberies, conspiracy to rob and burglary.
"His particular role involved driving others away immediately after the attacks."

Emma Goodall, defending, said Colliver had walked out of Ford Open Prison because some of his fellow inmates were being moved to higher category prisons..and he feared he was next.
But after escaping, he couldn’t get a job and ended up with the gang of robbers.

Sentencing Colliver on Monday, Judge Adele Williams concluded he posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public by committing further serious offences in the future and passed a sentence for public protection.

She directed Colliver serve at least eight and a half years before parole could be considered, but he will only released if no longer considered to pose a threat.