BRITAIN'S most prolific armed robber struck in Skipton, holding up a building society worker who was in his first week of employment.

This week Christopher Frank Wood, 53, was jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to 14 robberies, two attempted robberies, and 16 related charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent.

His targets included Skipton Building Society's Skipton High Street branch and Colne branch, which he robbed on the same day last June, in an attempt to pay off housing arrears totalling £1,300.

He also asked for a further 12 robberies, four attempted robberies and 16 additional firearms offences to be taken into consideration.

Wood, a charity collector, formerly of Buxton, Derbyshire, stole about £38,000 during his two-and-a-half-year reign of terror across central and northern England and North Wales.

Police believe he escaped capture for so long because outwardly he was a quiet, unassuming family man who "wouldn't say boo to a goose", and was the last person his friends would have fingered as the aggressive Flat Cap Robber.

But, sentencing Wood at Stafford Crown Court, Judge Simon Tonking said the raids left cashiers terrified and traumatised. Wood used a wheelbrace wrapped in a carrier bag to create the impression that he had a firearm, and subjected his victims to very real fear.

Patrick Thomas, prosecuting, said Wood, a married father-of-two, had worn a variety of hats, glasses and a three-quarter-length coat as disguises.

Mark Eades, defending, said Wood was not addicted to drugs or gambling and had not lived an extravagant lifestyle.

"There were no Riviera holidays or yachts," he added. "It's a striking fact that all the money appears to have gone on everyday living expenses."

He described Wood as a bad manager of money, and a financial ostrich who compartmentalised his life to allow him to live a lie. "He falsely rationalised the offences as being against a thing - money - rather than real people," said Mr Eades.

After the hearing, a spokesman for Skipton Building Society, confirmed that the person who dealt with Wood in Skipton was on his first week of employment on a temporary placement.

He said Wood was forceful but quite cool and quietly spoken as he demanded the cash with threats. Half the staff in the branch were unaware that a robbery had taken place.

The young employee, who no longer works for Skipton Building Society, followed training procedures and avoided creating a conflict.

The spokesman added that video evidence taken at the two branch offices was of use to the police, and cameras were constantly being upgraded. Indeed video evidence had this week led to the arrest of 12 people in connection with fraud charges.

Only a few hundred pounds had been stolen as the society did not keep large sums of money at its branches.

And Det Sgt Mick Moore, of Skipton Police, said: "I am pleased that the staff at Skipton Building Society can put this incident behind them, contented with the fact that a potentially very dangerous man has been locked up."

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