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Harehills: Four years jail for gun robber whose mask was see-through
A gunpoint robber whose flimsy disguise failed him when he raided his local bookies in Harehills has been locked up for four years.
Michael Clough donned a baseball cap and draped a lightweight veil as a mask over his face before storming in to the William Hill shop, brandishing a handgun.
He escaped with 400, but was soon behind bars after police viewed the shop's CCTV footage of the 60 second robbery.
Investigating officers Det Sgt Marcus Dawson and local neighbourhood officer PC Carl Wilson knew Clough and immediately recognised him through his feeble disguise.
Clough, 20, was arrested at his flat in Torre View, Burmantofts, a few hundred yards from the betting shop.
Officers discovered two black handguns – an air pistol and a gas-powered ball bearing gun – in an aftershave box on a dressing table in Clough's bedroom.
Clough, who has previous convictions for grievous bodily harm, battery and harassment protested his innocence during a string of police interviews.
He later admitted robbery and possessing an imitation handgun.
Prosecuting, Austin Newman said Clough pointed the gun under a glass security screen and ordered terrified William Hill relief manager James Wilson to hand over cash.
Clough's lawyer Richard Reed said: "It's not a well planned robbery. His mask wasn't particularly good.
"When he turns to the side you can almost see straight through it. That is how the officers who knew him were able to identify him."
Mr Reed said Clough committed the robbery during "60 seconds of madness" to get cash after being threatened to pay a debt.
Sending Clough to a young offender institution for four years, Recorder Simon Jackson QC told him: "I have seen those weapons in court and they are very realistic."
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