Hopton: Two men jailed for post office robbery

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TWO men who took part in an armed robbery at a Suffolk post office have been jailed for a total of 16 years.


Adam Fairbrass, jailed for the Hopton post office robberyAdam Fairbrass, jailed for the Hopton post office robbery

During the raid at the post office and shop in Thelnetham Road, Hopton, a member of staff was behind a counter when she was approached by 28-year-old Trevor Summers and told “Give us your money”, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The woman saw a gun, which turned out to be an imitation, resting on the hatch and initially thought Summers, who was wearing sunglasses and a red baseball cap and was speaking in a quiet voice, was joking, said Hugh Vass, prosecuting.

Summers, who was also armed with a knife with a seven to eight-inch blade, warned her not to activate the alarm and threatened he would come back and shoot her if she didn’t give him several minutes after he had left.

The frightened woman handed over bundles of cash totalling £1,050 and Summers grabbed the money and ran off.

His accomplice, Adam Fairbrass, was waiting nearby in a Toyota people carrier and witnesses were able to get part of the vehicle’s registration number, said Mr Vass.

He said information about the raid and vehicle were released to the media and the people carrier was traced to Fairbrass. Summers, 28, of no fixed address and Fairbrass, 29, who had lived in Queen’s Way, Ipswich, and Walsham-le-Willows, both admitted conspiring to rob the post offices on July 28, 2010.

They were both jailed for eight years with Summers being given an extended licence period of four years.

Jailing the men Judge Rupert Overbury said: “Those who rob post offices in planned and determined efforts to steal amounts of money by using threats or violence and being armed, as in you case with an imitation firearm, can only expect lengthy prison sentences.” He said the robbery was planned and the two defendants had been working as a team.

Victoria Meads, for Summers, said that despite making threats he had not used any violence. She said he had been motivated by financial concerns rather than the need for drugs.

Ian James, for Fairbrass, said his client’s people carrier had been distinctive and the robbery hadn’t been sophisticated.

After yesterday’s hearing, Senior Investigating Officer Supt Louisa Pepper said: “This incident was extremely frightening for the staff and customers of the post office and caused great concern amongst the residents of this usually quiet village.

“A large police response was mobilised because of the actions of this pair and they are now facing a lengthy spell behind bars.

“The community joined together to support the post office and the investigation and I am grateful to those who came forward to assist in our inquiries. CCTV and eyewitness accounts giving very good descriptions of the Toyota and its occupants were key to locating Fairbrass and Summers and bringing them to justice.”