Armed robber caught on CCTV wearing distinctive bucket hat

An armed robber who threatened staff at a bookmakers has been jailed for more than five years after his distinctive hat helped police identify him.

Tyrel Lewis-Hill, who was armed with a gun, demanded cash from the shop in Queen Elizabeth Avenue in Walsall on 13 July last year.

The 26-year-old fled with the cash but was caught on CCTV on the day of the raid wearing distinctive clothing including a bucket hat and jacket.

West Midlands Police released his image in a public plea for information and within days he handed himself in to police.

Lewis-Hill denied his involvement saying that, although he resembled the robber, it wasn’t him and he wanted to clear his name.

However, police obtained clear CCTV to identify his clothes and digital facial recognition technology to prove he was the attacker.

Lewis-Hill, of Upper Street, Tettenhall in Wolverhampton was found guilty of two counts of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

He was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday 6 June 2017.