Violent man jailed for Kingsland High Street robberies
Jailed: Dane Seraphin. Picture: Met Police - Credit: Archant
A man has been jailed for three years over two robberies in Kingsland High Street.
Dane Seraphin, 35, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court today after he pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
On August 12, Santander was robbed. As a staff member opened the door to let a colleague in, two men rushed into the bank. One held the entrance door whilst the other man, who was wearing a high-visibility vest and white crash helmet, ran into the branch and grabbed two money cassette boxes, which were empty at the time.
The men then ran into Winchester Place, but their escape was witnessed by an off-duty police constable who was on his way to work. The officer picked up a baseball cap that fell from the man who was wearing the high-visibility jacket. Subsequent DNA examination of the cap matched a full profile belonging to Seraphin.
The other offence happened on November 17 last year at a pawnbrokers, also on Kingsland High Street.
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Shortly before the robbery occurred, a customer was being shown jewellery worth £3,000. Seraphin entered the store and grabbed the necklace and tried to run away.
The shop assistant grabbed him in an attempt to prevent him from taking the item and Seraphin then punched him and ran out of the store.
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The assistant gave chase and caught up with him in Boleyn Road. At this point, Seraphin produced a kitchen knife with a six inch blade. Without saying anything, Seraphin thrust the knife towards the shop assistant’s stomach area, piercing his clothing. He then ran off.
From CCTV footage, detectives were able to establish that the robber was Seraphin. It was later established that, days after the last offence, Seraphin and two others were captured after committing a knife point robbery at a post office in Hertfordshire.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at Snaresbrook Crown Court on August 30.
After he was sent down today, Det Cons Dave Crewe said: “Seraphin is a violent robber.
“He showed a complete disregard for the staff in the premises that he targeted. The shopkeeper who was threatened with the knife escaped serious injury only due to his quick reactions in moving away from the knife.
“I am glad this defendant is now off the streets of London and will be unable to commit any more offences of this nature.”
Seraphin will serve the three year sentence on top of a five years and eight month term he received in July for a separate robbery offence.
