A man who donned a rubber “horror film” face mask while threatening bookmaker staff with a fake gun during a robbery spree has been jailed for ten years.

Andrae Moncrieffe, of Bibury Close, Southwark, was arrested after police discovered disguises and props used throughout his spree in his car boot.

The 37-year-old robbed three bookmakers in Camberwell and Peckham on December 15 and 27.

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The imitation firearm

At around 6.20pm on December 15, he followed a female staff member into a betting shop on Rye Lane.

Suspicious, another staff member ran over to shut and lock the door leading to the staff area, leaving their colleague face-to-face with the man.

Rubber-masked Moncrieffe, who was holding a pillowcase wrapped around a metal item, ushered her to the glass window.

As he did, several customers ran from the shop. The victim screamed, managing to escape as well, dropping her purse as she ran.

Moncrieffe then fled, picking up the dropped purse on his way out.

Later that evening he entered another bookmaker in Denmark Hill, again wearing the rubber mask.

A suspicious staff member behind the till shouted to a colleague and ran to the safe haven – an area behind a closed door.

Moncrieffe grabbed the employee on the shop floor, put him in a headlock and pointed an imitation firearm, then believed to be real, to his head, shouting “Oi, come here.”

The colleague emerged from the safe-haven. Moncrieffe pointed the gun at him and said “give me the money”.

They handed over as much money as they had access to, holding up an empty till drawer to Moncrieffe, who then ran away.

On December 27, a staff member at a bookmakers on Kirkwood Road was on shift with a male colleague.

Moncrieffe entered the stop wearing the mask, sunglasses and a top hat, walking with a stick.

She shouted “it’s him”, having been made aware of recent robberies in the area, before running to the safe haven and calling the police.

Moncrieffe pulled the imitation firearm from the waistband of his trousers, pointing it at the male member of staff, shouting ‘just give me the money, just give me the money’ and then words to the effect of ‘I’ll kill you if you don’t give me the money.’

Terrified, the female staff member ran back to the counter and began to throw money out from the tills.

As he collected the money, the male staff member ran out the front door and shut it behind him in a bid to trap Moncrieffe inside the shop.

After a brief struggle, the staff member allowed Moncrieffe to exit having seen him reach for the weapon on his waist.

Detectives conducted a range of enquiries, reviewing CCTV and carrying out covert surveillance on Moncrieffe.

A warrant to search his home and car was executed on April 14, 2020.

In the boot of his car they recovered a grey pillow case, a blue white rimmed beanie hat, a top hat, walking stick and a homemade imitation firearm.

The imitation firearm, on which his fingerprints were found, was a convincing replica of revolver with a long barrel and handle with a fashioned trigger.

The rubber face mask was never recovered.

Detective Chief Inspector Ann Marie Waller, from the Met's Flying Squad, said: “These robberies were absolutely terrifying ordeals for the staff members and customers involved. They were all in fear for their lives as they truly believed that Moncrieffe was armed.

“Moncrieffe went to great lengths to try and conceal his identity, including wearing a prosthetic rubber face mask that looked like something out of a horror film.

"However, detailed witness accounts and painstaking detective work by the Flying Squad ensured overwhelming evidence was put forward at his trial and the jury found him guilty.

"I am glad that the sentence handed down reflects the danger that Moncrieffe poses to the public.”