Robber who wore chilling clown mask while holding up Beefeater restaurants jailed for nearly ten years

A robber who disguised himself in a chilling clown mask while stealing from Beefeater restaurants in Devon has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in jail.

23-year-old Oliver Leggatt held up Beefeater restaurants around his home in Paignton while armed with knives and an imitation handgun.

Leggatt committed three robberies around Paignton over a year-long period. Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police

Leggatt was an ex-employee of Beefeater and committed the first offence, an attempted robbery, at the Kingsteignton branch in May 2014 when he threatened two female members of staff with a large knife before leaving empty-handed.

His second offence took place in December 2014 when a male employee at the Paignton branch was threatened with violence by Leggatt who got away with nearly £5000 from the business’s safe.

The final offence took place in April 2015 again at the Paignton branch when the female manager was threatened with a handgun, dragged by her hair and made to empty a safe of £5,000.

Leggatt disguised himself in a clown mask during the three robberies at Beefeater restaurants. Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police

The sentencing also included time for a £65,000 fraud against his grandparents committed with his brother William Leggatt.

A co-accused for the third robbery offence, Natalie Shaw, pleaded guilty to burglary and received an 18 month sentence suspended for 2 years.

Leggatt used an imitation handgun to inflict fear during one of the robberies. Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police

Detective Inspector Kay Chapman of Torbay CID said: