Bookie bandit jailed for 15 years

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Video: CCTV of the robberies

A man dubbed the "bookie bandit" has been jailed for a total of 15 years today after robbing a series of banks and bookmakers across Kent.

Gary McMeekin, 35, of Kingswear Gardens in Strood, admitted six charges of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

His sidekick, 31-year-old Robert Blackburn, of Copperhouse Road in Rochester, was handed four years behind bars for his role in one of the incidents.

Tuesday, August 31 2010

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Paul wrote:

I agree with Jim. The fact that a person can knowingly infect someone with a life-long and life-threatening disease, is sentenced to one year in prison and a robber, who only took money gets 15 years'. It is disproportionate in both cases.
I can't help feeling that the lowlife who infected the innocent girl, should have his condition tattoed on his forehead!

01 Sep 2010 4:47 PM

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Tony wrote:

Now that you have heard Mark, be happy.

01 Sep 2010 4:40 PM

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Simon wrote:

But mark, they must not be rubbed the wrong way.

01 Sep 2010 6:30 AM

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mark wrote:

Bookies are rubbing people and if any body rub them gets 15 years,it is not fair,if i hear a bookmakers is rubbed i would be really happy.

01 Sep 2010 1:43 AM

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Jim wrote:

Well I for one am pleased that you have shown this robber on CCTV he was caught because he was filmed on CCTV. He has been jailed to 15 years so it just goes to show how valuable CCTV is in fighting crime and how stupid he was to think he would get away with it. What I find disgusting is the man who infected a young women with HIV that she will have for the rest of her life was only given one year in jail how bad is that.

31 Aug 2010 8:51 PM

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Tom Fumble wrote:

Wow. He robbed all that money, but he still chose to live in Strood. What a nutcase.

31 Aug 2010 8:03 PM

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John-Choicebet wrote:

I fail to understand the need to show actual footage of the robberies that this lunatic carried out. Surely permission from the individual companies involved should have been sought. No one has taken into consideration the effects that this kind of crime can have on a victim, whether in the long or short term and having it plastered across the internet, without their permission is obserd and does nothing for the healing process. It also highlights that betting shops are soft targets with plenty of cash to lose. The identities of customers have been obscured, so why not the identities of the staff and the cash draws. It is sensationalist journalism and an infringement into their privacy.

31 Aug 2010 5:22 PM

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