Robber finally jailed nearly 20 years after building society raid

Paul Hamilton, 48, was sentenced to 21 months at Leeds Crown Court for the crime of holding up the former Northern Rock building society in Albion Place, Leeds, on August 27, 1992.

A terrified cashier, Chloe Walker (now Owens), was slipped a menacing note towards the end of the day telling her to hand over cash. Prosecutor Michael Smith said Ms Walker was sat behind a glass window when she became aware of a man at the counter who, without speaking, pushed a note underneath the till. It read: “Don’t press alarm, pass note back and money or I’ll shoot”.

He added: “She began to pass notes while subtly trying to alert colleagues and press alarm. He walked out with approximately £1,800.

“The police conducted an investigation at the time but the CCTV was of very poor quality. Fingerprints were also of poor quality.”

Hamilton’s crime would have remained undetected but for his having unburdened himself to an unknown person who years later decided to phone the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline. Last year the defendant’s fingerprints were checked against those of the note and were found to be consistent with them.

He was interviewed on January 15 and charged on February 17 when he denied the offence. Mr Hamilton said: “The investigation was complicated in that the original file was destroyed in asbestos contamination and a flood but the fingerprints remained.”

On Wednesday, Hamilton, of Chalice Close, Belle Isle, Leeds, pleaded guilty to the charge and Judge Alistair McCallum yesterday sentenced the former window cleaner and lorry driver to 21 months in prison.

He told him: “It’s been a long time coming. The offence you committed in 1992 was a very serious offence. Any bank robbery is always considered to be a very serious business. I fully accept that you didn’t have a gun with you at the time. If you had had a gun it would have been a far longer sentence than it would be.

“You have shown considerable remorse in accepting that you pleaded guilty and in those circumstances I can give you a 10 per cent reduction but I am going to make it considerably more than that in the hope that you have shown you can be a decent citizen.”

In mitigation, Richard Clews said the defendant had been married for 30 years and was now a grandfather. Although he had been convicted of various petty offences in the past he had been “out of trouble continually since 1995 and was fully rehabilitated and a useful member of society”.

Mr Clews added: “Now a considerable burden has been lifted from his shoulders. He has always been ashamed of committing this offence. There was no question of any violence actually being used.”

At the time he had been burdened by a chronic gambling addiction and had stolen to pay arrears to his mortgage provider – Northern Rock.