A man has been jailed for his part in a spate of armed robberies at convenience stores and betting shops in Buckinghamshire, London and the surrounding counties.

Richard Mazzuccato, 34, of Mill End, Rickmansworth, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 22 May, for his involvement in the crimes including a robbery at knife-point in Chesham.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery at the same court on August 27 2018.

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He is the last of the four suspects to be sentenced.

His co-defendants Justin Stockbridge and Jamie Owen, were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court in March.

CCTV footage that captured a robbery at a betting shop in High Road, Chesham on December 27 2018 at about 9:30pm captured the face-covered suspect’s forearm as he threatened a member of staff with a knife.

There was a distinctive tattoo on the forearm, which was identified as being identical to a tattoo on Stockbridge’s forearm.

In April 2019, Stockbridge was arrested while driving a van outside a convenience store in Croxley Green, which was targeted in November 2018.

The van he was driving was linked to the last robbery in the series where a convenience store was targeted in Penn.

Mazzuccato was also arrested in April 2019 at his home address but denied any knowledge of the offences during his police interview.

They were both charged the same month.

The court heard that both men are habitual drug users, with Mazzuccato claiming to have a £100 per day crack cocaine habit.

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Detective Sergeant Tim Fines, from the Flying Squad, said: “I have no doubt that these suspects would have continued committing this horrific spate of robberies if they had not been identified and arrested.

"All of the robberies were terrifying ordeals for the victims – thankfully none of them suffered serious injuries during the attacks.

“These suspects were not afraid to use violence, often just for small amounts of cash.

"I hope the sentences handed down will act as a deterrent to those thinking of carrying out such violent crimes.

"I would like to thank our colleagues from Hertfordshire, Sussex, Surrey and Thames Valley constabularies for their contribution to this investigation and continued assistance throughout the trial.”