Robber threatened staff with knife during string of Co-op raids

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The Nuneaton man has been jailed for the terrifying robberies



A knife robber who threatened staff while he led a campaign of terror at Co-op shops has been jailed.

Kevin Miles, aged 54, of Craddock Court, Nuneaton, struck at two shops in the town before attempting to raid another in Tamworth.

His catalogue of Co-op crime started on Monday, April 22 last year when he went into the shop on Beech Road and threatened staff with a knife and demanded they open the till.

Miles then stole £400 in cash before making his escape.

Just a few days later on Saturday, April 27, Miles went to another Co-op shop on Sherbourne Avenue, and jumped behind the counter and again threatened staff with a knife, demanding money.

This time he was unable to gain access to the till so left empty-handed.

Undeterred, he went on to the Co-op on Tamworth Road in Kingsbury, Tamworth, and waited while the cashier served other customers.

As soon as the cashier opened the till, he produced a knife and threatened staff in front of young customers, trying to grab money from the till.

The till closed before he could secure any cash so he left the premises, again empty-handed.

Officers identified Miles from the in-store CCTV footage and arrested him just 24 hours later.

Kevin was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison at Warwick Crown Court on Monday (February 17).

This was after he admitted one count of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.

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Anger after council allowed knife robber to live with elderly residents

Outraged residents say a convicted knife robber lived with vulnerable and elderly residents in council accommodation - despite not even being in the age range to live there.

Kevin Miles of Craddock Court, Nuneaton, was sentenced to seven years and six months after he admitted a string of Co-op robberies.

Miles is now behind bars but fuming residents contacted CoventryLive to voice their anger at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.

This is because they claim he was allowed to live in sheltered housing, officially known as independent living schemes, despite not meeting the criteria around age range.

According to the council's website, the independent living scheme service and accommodation is available to those aged 55 and over, or 50 and over with a medical condition.

Miles is aged 54.

"This man was somehow allowed to live in sheltered housing with vulnerable elderly residents despite not even being in the council's age bracket to live there," said a resident, who did not want to be named.

"I am disgusted that the council has allowed this to happen, putting the vulnerable residents at risk.

"Social care seems not to include the residents in this case, and I think they put the needs of this criminal first and they should be made to explain their decision making process with this individual."