More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Two brothers who took part in a robbery at a Chatham amusement arcade have been jailed for a combined total of more than 14 years.
While Neil Sutton, 40, kept watch outside City Slots, his older brother Nathan, 42, armed himself with a knife and carried out the heist.
The brothers then fled with £10,800 from the armed raid – which happened just days after Nathan had carried out a botched solo attack at a bookies.
Maidstone Crown Court heard how six days earlier on January 26, 2020, he had gone to the Coral bookmakers in the town but had been forced outside by courageous worker, Carol McManus
Prosecutor John Fitzgerald said Ms McManus was by herself when Sutton went in with a hat and a scarf covering his mouth and holding a kitchen knife.
"He walked to Ms McManus and raised the knife and demanded she get behind the counter and open the safe," he said.
She said: "Please don't hurt me." Sutton responded by putting away the knife, telling her: "I won't hurt you if you give me the money!"
"Since the incident, every time I shut my eyes I could see the male coming towards me with a knife."
The prosecutor said that after being told there was very little money, Sutton grabbed her and began pulling her with such force it left her with bruises.
"She retreated out of the front of the shop and Sutton then ran out but turned in the opposite direction. Ms McManus returned to the shop and locked the front door.
"Sutton tried to get back in but soon realised he couldn't. His passing shot was 'I know your face. You're dead!'," added the prosecutor.
Ms McManus said later: "Since the incident, every time I shut my eyes I could see the male coming towards me with a knife."
Mr Fitzgerald said the incident was caught on Coral's CCTV and shown to the judge.
Less than a week later, on February 2 the two brothers teamed up to attack City Slots amusement arcade in High Street, Chatham.
The court heard that Neil acted as a lookout while his brother armed himself with a knife and escaped with £10,800 after threatening staff worker Rachel Osborn.
She had been filling up a slot machine at the back of the premises when Nathan went in – again wearing a hat and scarf.
Brandishing a knife, he told her: "Take me to the safe...don't do anything stupid, love."
Police arrested him after looking at CCTV and recovered £890 of the stolen money, said Mr Fitzgerald.
"After the incident I was in total fear and living on my nerves...with every customer being a suspect."
Ms Osborn later revealed she had been left "shocked and stunned" after being confronted by the robber.
"After the incident I was in total fear and living on my nerves...with every customer being a suspect. Every time I was approached, I felt my heart skip a beat and my stomach churned," she said.
She also revealed that many years earlier she had known Nathan but lost her job after revealing it to her employer.
"I felt cheated out of work. People do these awful things and have absolutely no regard for anyone else," she added.
Neil was convicted of robbery by a jury and was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
"I’m pleased both brothers have been jailed and I hope their sentences act as a deterrent to others who may be thinking of carrying out similar criminality."
Nathan admitted the two robberies and possessing a knife and was jailed for eight years.
As he left the dock to begin his sentence he told the judge: "Can you let the victim know I am very sorry."
The brothers both lived in Shipwrights Avenue, Chatham. Neil has a 176-offence-long criminal record.
His barrister Oliver Kirk said: "He has been addicted to heroin for 22 years and his life has been blighted by addiction."
Ms Eve George, for Nathan, said he became involved with a County Lines drugs network and ended up owing money and his mother had now disowned him.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Rebecca Veares said: "The Sutton brothers specifically targeted the arcade in order to steal a large quantity of cash.
"Nathan used fear in order to steal the money and didn’t care about the impact his actions had on those he threatened.
"Despite the evidence against him, Neil denied being involved but a jury saw through his lies. I’m pleased both brothers have been jailed and I hope their sentences act as a deterrent to others who may be thinking of carrying out similar criminality."
For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.
