Six years for Spitalfields robbery fail

BURGLARY WENT wrong – but, even so, Paul Hensley, 57, of Code Street, E1, was given a six year prison sentence. Hensley appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Friday, where he was convicted of attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The Court heard that Hensley had gone to the Tag Heuer store on Brushfield Street, Spitalfields, on 4th June, just after 10.40am. He waved a large handgun at the lone woman members of staff in the shop and demanded that she open the cabinets and take out some high value watches and put them into a bag he handed to her.

His actions were seen on the shop’s internal CCTV by the store manager, who was working downstairs in the building. The manager activated the store’s smoke device, and as smoke billowed through the shop floor, Hensley ran off, with nothing.

A police officer was able to identify Hensley from the CCTV footage. On 8th June, officers went to the Code Street hostel where Hensley lived. They saw him leave the building and followed him into Brick Lane, where they stopped him and arrested him.

Hensley’s bedsit was later searched, and police recovered trousers and a glove worn during the attempted robbery – as well as the distinctive bag Hensley had asked the staff member to put the watches in.

Detective Constable Carl Stallabrass of the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad said, “This is a great example of swift and dedicated detective work that has led to the arrest of a violent and prolific offender. He left the victim of this offence understandably traumatised, and he has now been handed a significant jail sentence, preventing him from committing similar offences for the foreseeable future.”

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