Bank manager jailed for aiding £371,000 raid

Rachael Shariar-Namini and William Wormald drew up a plan of the Hunslet branch of the Nat West in Leeds. Wormald and Darren Ashcroft raided the premises in March and escaped with 371,691 – the biggest bank and post office hold-up in West Yorkshire in the past 10 years, Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday.

Shariar-Namini, 23, who was chief cashier at the branch until taking over as manageress at Rothwell, Leeds, after being fasttracked through the system, put her head in her hands as she heard the sentence imposed by Judge Sally Cahill QC. He said she had shown no remorse for her breach of trust.

The judge said she did not think Shariar-Namini was as naive as was being suggested. "I am quite satisfied you knew quite well what your boyfriend was going to do with the information and that you were an integral part in it."

Shariar-Namini of Victoria Avenue, Rothwell, Leeds, was found guilty of the robbery by a jury in August.

She claimed she provided the information after she had been drinking and never believed it would be used.

Wormald, 26, of Cranewells View, Colton, Leeds and Darren Ashcroft, 39 of Penwell Dean, Swarcliffe, Leeds were each jailed for eight years after both admitted robbery.

A fourth man, David Cowie, 32, also of Penwell Dean, who admitted robbery by allowing his car to be used in the raid was jailed for five years.

Passing sentence, Judge Cahill said the robbery was well planned and well executed and had it not been for a member of the public who noted the car number, those involved might never have been caught.

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, said Wormald and Shariar-Namini started going out together soon after Christmas last year. During a night together in the Park Plaza Hotel, Leeds they discussed ways in which the bank could be robbed and drew sketches of the layout.

She also provided him with information about cash handling procedures, the best time to strike and the best point of entry – through the flat roof over the women's toilet on the first floor.

Ashcroft, who like Wormald was a part-time doorman, arranged to use Cowie's car and on March 9 the pair completed their entry through the roof, having cut part of their way in the previous week.

With their faces covered with masks and wearing dark clothing they walked down the stairs, one holding a crowbar, and surprised the staff.

Mr Sharp said they then escaped through the fire door but the number of the car was taken by a man who thought they looked suspicious. It led to Cowie and eventually the others, and the recovery of all but 40,000 of the money.

Jason Pitter, for Shariar-Namini, said she maintained she had not known what was planned and the case was a tragedy for her.

She was a bright girl who had thrown away a good future and the only physical benefit she had received was a Steiff teddy bear bought for her by Wormald in York after the raid.

Stephen Welford for Wormald said like his girlfriend he was from a good family, and deeply regretted the shame brought on them.

He found it hard to explain how what started as a throw away conversation had turned into the enterprise it did.

He said afterwards Wormald had given money away to homeless people and beggars as well as collection boxes in local churches. He had approached a catholic priest and told him what he had done and that he wanted to give money away to good causes.