Trader praised by police for stopping robber (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

TRader praised by police for stopping Malmesbury robber

1:54pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News

DETECTIVES have described jeweller’s shop robber Christopher Pike as a “serial and dangerous offender.”

Det Sgt Simon Pope welcomed the eight- year prison sentence handed down to Pike by a judge at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday.

"It reflects the seriousness of his crimes, the impact it has had on a number of innocent victims and also the hard work put in by a number of detectives who successfully identified Pike and promptly curtailed his activities,” he said.

Drug addict Pike, formerly of White Horse Way, Devizes, pleaded guilty to the robbery in Malmesbury as well as a string of crimes in including burglary, theft and assault, committed during a two-month spree across Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset.

Det Sgt Pope paid tribute to neighbouring trader Andrew Carnegie who came to her rescue on October 5.

"I would also like to express my gratitude to Mr Carnegie who, with no regard for his own safety, ran to the aid of the victim.

"His bravery stopped any further attack on the female employee and he should be commended.

"I hope that this sentence also serves as a warning to prolific offenders that we will use the full weight of the law to bring you to justice."

Pike was sentenced to four years for the robbery and another four years for his other crimes, to run consecutively.