Caught on camera: CCTV of
a raid

Two Medway men have admitted their part in a series of
raids on bookmakers and banks across Kent.

Gary McMeekin, 35, of Kingswear
Gardens, Strood, and Robert Blackburn, 31, of Copperhouse Road,
Rochester, both pleaded guilty to robbery when they appeared at
Maidstone Crown Court.

McMeekin, who
was captured on CCTV during one of the raids,
above, pleaded guilty to six charges of robbery and
possession of an imitation firearm and two further offences will be
taken into consideration.

McMeekin, who was dubbed the Bookie
Bandit and is pictured without his disguise right, admitted
robbing the Coral bookmakers, Friary Precinct, Strood, on Sunday
November 29, 2009; the Coral bookmakers, Gun Lane, Strood -
Monday, November 30, 2009; Choice Bet bookmakers, High Street,
Snodland, on December 2 last year; Coral bookmakers, Friary
Precinct, Strood, on January 13, this year; the Nationwide Building
Society, Strood, March 25 and the Lloyds TSB bank, Perry Street,
Northfleet, on Friday, April 9.

The robberies to be taking
into consideration, include Ladbrokes bookmakers, Holborough Road,
Snodland, on January 15, and the William Hill bookmakers, High
Street, Strood, January 18.

Blackburn pleaded guilty to one
charge of robbery in connection to the offence in Northfleet on
April 9.

Both men have been remanded into
custody and are due to be sentenced at the same court next
month.