Police release CCTV image of masked raider in shop

Police have released a CCTV image of the moment a masked raider threatened a shop worker with what appeared to be a pistol.

Darren Campbell, of Aspen Crescent, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, has been jailed for more than four years by a judge at Luton Crown Court after admitting a number of offences.

The image shows Campbell, 37, at a newsagent in Dunstable in June, dressed in black and wearing a black horror mask.

A detective who investigated the raid said Campbell subjected his victim to a "terrifying ordeal".

Bedfordshire Police released images, showing Campbell masked and unmasked, following his sentencing.

It said he was on bail at the time of the raid and "fled the scene" in his own car.

Campbell was masked when he entered the Luton Road store on 24 June at about 17:30 BST and threatened the worker with what appeared to be a "pistol-style firearm and ammunition clip".

"He pointed the weapon at the employee, demanding money and threatening to shoot him," police said in a statement.

Minutes later he fled the scene in a silver Vauxhall Mokka.

"At the time of the offence, Campbell was on a tagged curfew, having been bailed by Luton Crown Court earlier that month while awaiting trial for a series of burglaries," police added.

Det Con Freya Williams said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim, who was threatened at gunpoint while simply doing his job."

Campbell was jailed on Friday for 50 months after admitting offences including attempted robbery, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence, burglary and fraud.

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