A gang of armed robbers who dressed like Harry Potter Dementors and stole Rolex watches in a £17,000 jewellery raid have been jailed for a total of 32 years.
Connor Willis, 24, Anthony Wheeldon, 40 and Dean King, 28, were jailed on Tuesday after carrying out a raid on Walker the Jeweller in Dundee just before 11am on September 23, 2019.
After the brazen raid in the middle of the day, the gang threatened employees and one customer was admitted to hospital.
CCTV footage shows the gang wearing flowing, back-length robes that resemble flowing silk. These are the dementedors, who haunt Azkaban’s notorious wizard prison.
King, the leader of the group, arrived in a stolen vehicle and King then rang the doors. He then bent down to tie his shoes when staff members welcomed him. The door was not closing.
Connor Willis, 24, Anthony Wheeldon, 40 and Dean King, 28, were jailed on Tuesday after robbing Walker the Jeweller in Dundee just before 11am on September 23, 2019
Staff tried to close the door, but three men ran in the direction of the shop with a hammer.
The gang threatened staff and customers and smashed the display cabinets, taking two Rolex watches worth £17,850.
When staff activated an anti-robbery fog machine, the gang ran away.
One customer, who attempted to fight off the robbers, was struck on the head by the mallet. He had to be taken into hospital to receive treatment.
According to a spokeswoman from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Wheeldon and Willis were both originally from Manchester and had been travelling for the Dundee Robbery.
Willis had been part of another robbery in Edinburgh less than a month earlier on August 31, 2019.
The robbery of Miena Jewellery, Great Junction Street was carried out by a group of four others. He arrived in the car they had taken from an Edinburgh home the night prior.
The gang is seen in CCTV footage as they wear flowing back robes that resemble the Dementors in Azkaban, the wizard prison in Harry Potter.
The gang threatened staff and customers and smashed the display cabinets, taking two Rolex watches worth £17,850. Image: Video footage from CCTV of brazen daytime robbery
While the other two remained in the car, the rest of the group got out and beat the lock with a sledgehammer.
After entering the shop, they threatened to kill its owner. One of them attacked him with an electric axe, while others broke down display cabinets and grabbed silver and gold chains, necklaces, and bracelets.
The value of the stolen items was estimated at around £27,000.
The shop owner activated the fire extinguisher to infuse the shop and then the thieves drove away.
Jennifer Harrower is the Procurator Fiscal of Specialist Casework. She stated that these men traveled to Scotland and armed themselves, then carried out violent robberies at night.
“These were frightening ordeals for both the customers and staff involved in the robberies, and especially for the men who were injured and attacked during them.
“These three men were brought to justice because of their thorough investigations and cooperation with other police forces across the UK.
Gavin McKinlay Detective Inspector, who was the top investigating officer in Dundee for the robbery, stated that the men entered the Dundee shop armed and ready to threaten a customer or staff member and then stole jewellery in the amount of five figures.
They had just one thought: get the jewelry.
“Despite their intimidation and terrifying experiences, staff were overcome by the courage of a customer. This distraction enabled them to activate the alarm.
“This means they took a smaller amount than what they would have otherwise taken.
One customer tried to fight off the robbers but was struck on the head by a mallet. He had to be admitted to the hospital. Image: Video from CCTV of the robbery
“A lengthy and complicated police investigation found these men in locations throughout Scotland and England. However, I want to testify to the bravery and strength of both the customer (who was fortunately able to recover) and the shop workers, who were severely shaken after what transpired.
“These men now face the consequences for their actions.
“There is no room for this type of violence in our society, and we will do everything we can to bring those who are responsible to justice.”
Bob Campbell, Detective Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer for Edinburgh Robbery, expressed his delight at the sentence.
William was one of the gang members who entered Great Junction Street jewellers armed with a pair of axes, a sledgehammer and other tools and stole many pieces of jewellery.
A member of the staff sustained injuries during the raid. However, he was able to confront the robbers.
“Willis, a violent man, is facing prison for the results of his crimes.”
On October 7, all three of them pleaded guilty at Edinburgh’s High Court to their respective crimes.
Willis was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment plus five years probation for the robbery.
King was sentenced for nine years, two months, and Wheeldon was sentenced for 11 years and four years with a license.