A dangerous crook who committed a spate of terrifying robberies, two of them while he was armed, has been jailed for ten years.
Dorian Rankin, 42, from Thornton Heath, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, January 27.
On December 15 last year Rankin pleaded guilty to three robberies at the Walworth Road pawnbrokers, the Betfred on Rye Lane, Peckham, and the Lloyds Bank in Sydenham.
DC Craig Prout, of the Flying Squad described him as “a coward who used a firearm to threaten and intimidate innocent members of staff”.
On November 16, 2021, Rankin forcibly stole a gold necklace from the H & T Pawnbrokers on Walworth Road.
On January 13 2022, he threatened staff at Peckham bookmakers Betfred with a handgun, escaping with a “quantity of cash”.
Just a month later, on February 14, 2022, he struck again, threatening staff at the now-closed Lloyds Bank on Sydenham Road with a firearm.
Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad launched an investigation and identified Rankin as the suspect. He was arrested on August 18, 2022, and charged.
He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified on Beulah Road, Thornton Heath, on May 26, 2022, and possessing/controlling identity documents with intent on August 18, 2022.
DC Craig Prout, of the Flying Squad, said: “Rankin is a coward who used a firearm to threaten and intimidate innocent members of staff. This conviction shows how seriously we treat such offending and those who choose to carry out criminal acts will be identified and convicted.
“Anyone with information about those who use weapons to rob or intimidate people can provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111. They do not ask your name or trace your IP address.”