Man who used threatening hand-written note to rob bank in East Sussex jailed

A man who used a handwritten note to rob a bank in East Sussex, before trying the same method on other banks in the county, has been jailed.

Alan Slattery, of Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, made off with more than £2000 in cash in his one successful robbery, before he was later apprehended by Sussex Police.

The 67-year-old was handed a six-year extended sentence when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, July 16.

Slattery entered three separate banks in Hastings and Eastbourne over a two week period.

On each occasion he used a handwritten note to demand the cashier handed over money.

He first attempted to rob the Nationwide Building Society on Terminus Road in Eastbourne on 18 March.

But upon handing over his handwritten note, the cashier could not read his handwriting and he was forced to leave empty handed.

Staff later managed to read the note and reported it to the police.

On 26 March, Slattery tried the same method with a new note at the Nationwide branch in St Leonards.

The cashier, fearing for her safety, handed over £2,400 to Slattery, who then left the bank without saying anything.

Detectives found CCTV showing Slattery boarding a bus just moments after the reported theft, and they were subsequently able to identify him via his bus pass.

As officers were trying to track him down, Slattery attempted a third robbery at Natwest in Hastings.

He presented a threatening note demanding money, but the cashier challenged him and he left.

Slattery was arrested soon after.

Slattery pleaded guilty to all three offences, and was given a six-year extended sentence, comprising of four years in custody and two years on licence.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jay Fair, said: “These incidents caused fear and distress to both the employees working in the banks, and to the wider public.

“I’d like to thank all the victims and witnesses who supported our investigation, and I’m pleased to see the severity of the offences reflected in the sentence handed out by the court.”