Love-blind wife jailed after acting as a getaway driver for her armed robber husband — as the thug held up a bookies for £3,375
A WIFE acted as getaway driver for her armed robber husband as he held up a bookies for £3,375.
Clare Hall, 27, waited near the Betfred store as Matthew, 28, and a friend went in and threatened a worker with a cleaver.
The balaclava-clad pair hoped to flee in a BMW but were seen by police. The pal made it into the car but Matthew ran.
Clare drove around Portsmouth looking for him but was caught after a resident reported the BMW as suspicious, the city’s crown court heard.
Clare, of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, denied robbery but was found guilty and jailed for five years.
Matthew was convicted of robbery at an earlier trial and got seven years and eight months in jail.
Prosecutor Martyn Booth said: "Claire Hall was the getaway driver and had the men been able to reach the car they planned to escape to Bognor Regis.
"But we know that things didn't go terribly smoothly."
Jailing her for five years, Judge David Melville said: "You were in love with Matthew Hall, a seasoned criminal, and could not separate yourself from him."
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