ARMED robber Colin Douglas will face another year in prison if he fails to repay criminal proceeds from his crime spree in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester two years ago.

The 27-year-old was jailed for a minimum of nine years in December 2011 for a total of 18 offences including the armed robbery of the Abbotsbury Road Post Office in Weymouth, arson and burglary.

He returned to Dorchester Crown Court for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act regarding the criminal proceeds from his offending.

Prosecutor Nicholas Robinson sought an order to state that the total benefit figure from Douglas’s crimes was £32,952.11 and the realisable assets the Crown Prosecution Service was attempting to recover was £27,059.59.

However, Douglas – who appeared in court unrepresented – claimed he had spent some of the money while he was on the run from police and ‘wasted’ the rest on drugs in prison following his arrest.
He told the court: “When I was in prison I only had £19,000 anyway and I wasted that £19,000 in prison.”
Douglas added: “Truthfully I have not got the money.”

Mr Robinson told the court that Douglas claimed to have come off drugs six months ago, giving him a 17-month period from when he was first remanded in custody during which the defendant asserted he was using drugs and spent the money.

Judge Roger Jarvis ordered that Douglas pay the £27,059.59 within six months and in default of payment he would serve an additional prison sentence of 12 months.

Before passing the sentence, Judge Jarvis had offered to postpone the imposition of the order to give Douglas a chance to obtain legal representation but the defendant said that would not be necessary.

Douglas said: “I accept I have taken the money and I have used the money so therefore I have got no problem with taking it on the chin.”

He added: “I’m sorry for the circumstances.”

Douglas sparked a major manhunt when he robbed the Abbotsbury Road Post Office in March 2011 and went on the run.

He was arrested three days later in woodland near Dorchester and was charged with a number of other offences including an arson at a Dorchester industrial estate and the armed robbery and false imprisonment of Portland taxi driver Derrick Thorner.

Weymouth and Portland Borough councillor Ian James, who represents Westham East, said he was pleased at the court decision to recover money from Douglas.

He added: “There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that this man should be made to pay back every penny and more of what he owes.”

Coun James said Douglas’s actions could have ruined the Abbotsbury Road Post Office and that money taken should be returned.