Raiders who terrorised family lose jail appeal

Lee Andrew Haddington, of Palgrave Crescent, Southey Green, was found guilty earlier this year at Sheffield Crown Court of robbery and having an imitation firearm.

His pal, Glen William Gamble, of Firshill Walk, Firshill, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to the same offences.

Haddington, aged 25, received 16 years behind bars, and Gamble got 12 years.

London's Court of Appeal was told the sentences were "manifestly excessive" and out of line with punishments handed down in similar cases.

But Mr Justice David Steel, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Judge Ann Goddard QC, said the court was not "remotely persuaded" the sentencing judge had made an error.

The court heard the pair targeted Steve Quirk, an executive consultant for a leisure company whose job it was to collect takings from a number of Sheffield pubs on a Sunday.

On October 22, 2006, he had collected around 40,000 in cash and put it in two safes at his home in Chapeltown, Leeds, and had settled down to watch television with wife Ramona and their 14-year-old son Myles.

Haddington and Gamble, wearing masks, entered the property armed with an imitation pistol and an iron bar.

While Gamble took Mr Quirk around the house searching for money, Haddington held his wife and son at gunpoint and said they would be shot unless the safes were opened.

A small safe containing 7,000 in cash was accessed, while a larger safe containing the bulk of the money was loaded into Mr Quirk's car, which Gamble drove from the scene.

But they were spotted by police, and Gamble and Haddington made a run for it, leaving the safe in the back of the car. After a month at large, the pair were eventually arrested.