A GREEDY armed robber was caught by Flying Squad detectives after he claimed the winnings from scratch-cards he stole in an earlier robbery.
Henderson Domingo, 47, was found guilty of five counts of robbery, three of attempted robbery and one count of possession of a bladed article at Kingston Crown Court on Friday (Jul 8) and jailed for 14 years.
In each of the five robberies, Domingo threatened staff with a knife before making off with cash and other items.
Domingo, from West Ealing, was caught following detective work into National Lottery scratch-cards stolen from a supermarket in Upper Richmond Road on January 24 2021.
On January 27 and 28 2021, Domingo visited four shops in Ealing to claim winnings from the stolen scratch-cards, but police had been carefully tracking claims and looking for anything suspicious.
He was paid winnings totalling £255 from 27 stolen cards, but officers had a significant lead, and further detective work using CCTV and other methods led to him being identified.
Domingo was arrested at around 5:50am on February 25 2021, near a supermarket in Ealing.
He was in possession of a knife and in the process of commencing his attempt to rob the supermarket.
Police found £14,881 in cash at his home.
Detective Constable Pippa Bregazzi said: “Domingo will have a considerable period of time in prison to reflect on the distress he has caused staff at the supermarkets he targeted, as well as on his own foolishness and greed."