A bold robber who stole a cash box from a security guard outside a supermarket petrol station has been sentenced to prison.
Ross O’Riely, aged 38 and residing in Marans Croft, Birmingham, was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on June 22 for the crime. On Thursday, April 20, just before noon, O’Riely attacked a security guard from behind while the guard was collecting cash from Sainsbury’s petrol station on Turner Road, Brierley Hill.
During the incident, the security guard fought back, and in the scuffle, managed to remove one of O’Riely’s gloves. Despite this, O’Riely was able to break free and escape with a cash box containing money on a waiting motorbike.
Our investigation led to O’Riely’s arrest in Warwickshire the following month for dangerous driving in a vehicle with false plates, which was flagged as connected to the crime. We connected him to the robbery through DNA evidence obtained from the glove, along with other evidence we had gathered. O’Riely was charged and held in custody.
Last week, O’Riely pleaded guilty to robbery and dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Crown Court. He received a sentence of four years and eight months for robbery and 10 months for dangerous driving, to be served concurrently. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for 40 months.
Detective Constable Benjamin Lyttleton from Force CID commented, “This was a bold robbery committed during daylight. It was evident that Ross O’Riely had planned for a quick getaway with a motorbike parked nearby. However, he did not anticipate the resistance put up by the security guard. Thanks to the guard’s bravery, we were able to swiftly link O’Riely to the crime using the DNA sample extracted from the glove that the guard managed to seize. We promptly charged him, and we are pleased to see him imprisoned for this offense.”
