Bare-faced gunman gets life

A BRAZEN armed robber who stole thousands from a building society in Worthing after threatening staff with a gun has been jailed for life.

David William Love, 40, described as a "career criminal", stole more than 12,000 from eight building societies the length and breadth of the country, including the Bristol and West in South Street on June 28, during a six month "robbery binge".

As this exclusive CCTV picture shows, Love did not even bother to cover his face when he targeted the Worthing building society at 4.30pm.

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After strolling in, he pulled a gun on two female staff and demanded cash '“ some of which was covered in red security dye, before running off up Chapel Road.

Love, a former caterer of no fixed address, had previously been sentenced to 18 years for similar offences and returned to armed robbery after breaking up with his girlfriend.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Love was drinking a litre of vodka every day when police finally ended his violent crime spree after catching him in Basingstoke.

Christopher Parker, prosecuting, told the court four years after being released from a 12-and-a-half year sentence for five armed robberies, Love stuck again.

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Mr Parker said: "The building societies are chosen essentially because they are in low level security premises, without shutters or glass screens

"He was nervous of the cashiers locking him in the premises.

"The hallmarks of his behaviour were that he never wore disguises, never wore gloves and left his face open for all the cameras to see.

"He would normally enter the premises, produce a handgun and almost immediately leap over the counter and demand the cashiers produce money.

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"He would frequently ask them if there were any reserves or extra money."

Mr Parker said Love, who admitted eight counts of armed robbery, had used a total of three imitation guns.

He continued: "The impression received by the cashiers was that this was a real firearm and that it would be used against them.

"The cashiers tended to be female and they were very frightened and shocked by what had taken place. Throughout each of the robberies he was calm but frequently when he left he would make a joke or thank the cashiers."

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After eight raids, Love was finally captured in Hampshire by two quickthinking bicycle policemen '“ just minutes after robbing The Woolwich in Basingstoke.

Mr Parker told the court: "Love was interviewed that day and was frank about what he had done. He said: 'They will be looking for me about seven others'."

Nicholas Rowland, for the defence, said when police ended the crime spree Love was drinking a litre bottle of vodka every day.

Mr Rowland said: "He freely says that when his relationship broke down he went on a robbery binge.

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"He made admissions to offences across the country that may have remained unsolved if he had not admitted to them. Mr Rowland added that Love was deeply remorseful and had sent letters of apology to his victims.

But in sentencing Love to a minimum of seven years, judge Andrew Barnett said he had waged a "campaign of terror".

Judge Barnett told Love: "All of these offences are extremely serious and all of them were targeted deliberately against building societies with low level security.

"You took with you an imitation firearm and with that you struck terror into the cashiers of building societies.

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"I have absolutely no doubt you realised the effect your actions would have. You, for a period of six months, were a one-man crime wave, deliberately targeting vulnerable building societies the length and breadth of the country.

"You are a danger to the public and this community. Your behaviour is totally unacceptable and I am justified in sending you to jail for a very long time indeed. "There is only one sentence that will do and that is life imprisonment."

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