Clown Prince of Robbers Anthony Lee Perry had the grin wiped off his face when sentenced to 11 years for a string of raids on bookies and armoured vans while on the run from prison.
Perry, 31, of Great Dover Street, Borough, Southwark, earned his nickname after posing with cigarettes behind his ears for a police mugshot and was the target of a manhunt publicized on BBC’s Crimewatch and the national press.
He also wore silly shades and naff tracksuits during robberies - in which his gang threatened terrified staff with violence, claiming they had a gun – netting £31,500.
They targeted a string of London betting shops, a Bristol bookies, a Cheltenham Post Office and armoured vans in Basingstoke and Leamington Spa last year, during a 10-week blitz.
Perry’s gang was so notorious Tower Bridge Flying Squad mounted Operation Hoscar to trap them and the Association of British Bookmakers put up a £10,000 reward for his capture.
Perry pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to conspiring to rob betting shops between July 24 and October 3, last year, and security vans on or before October 8.
He also pleaded guilty to robbing a post office in Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, of £4,235 cash on September 5, last year.
Perry and accomplice Fabian Dawson, 29, jailed for 10 ½ years for his role plus other unknown raiders robbed Ladbrokes Bookmakers in Rotherhithe New Road, Rotherhithe of £1,500 on July 25; Southwark Park Road, Southwark of £960 on July 31; Salmon Lane, Poplar, of £600 on August 4 and Moravian Road, Kingswood, Bristol, of £4,500 on August 23.
He also robbed William Hill’s, London road, Streatham, of £144, on August 7 and Ladbrokes, Fishponds Road, Bristol, of £700 on September 5.
Perry was the getaway driver for raids on cash vans at Homebase, Winchester Road, Basingstoke, when £4,000 in coins was grabbed and on September 16 at Shires Retail Park, Tachbrook Drive, Leamington Spa, when £12,515 was snatched on October 2.
He became the fourth generation of his South London crime family to appear at the courthouse, located in tough Elephant and Castle.
Judge Simon Davis told Perry, handcuffed in the dock for extra security, “These offences bear all the hallmarks of a planned campaign of organized robberies. You were part of a professional team.
“These were all commercial premises deliberately targeted for high financial proceeds and these robberies were carried out over a long period of time. There must have been some planning.”
Prosecutor Mr. James Brown said Perry, jailed for twelve years for the manslaughter of a female pedestrian while driving a stolen car during a police chase, absconded from Ford Open Prison on June 2, last year, five months short of his release.
“The M.O. was simple and repeated throughout the robberies,” explained Mr. Brown. “They went into betting shops and lingered around, pretending to use the toilet, waiting for the opportunity for the secure area to be opened, or simply smashed their way in, frightening staff.
“There were two occasions when members of staff believed they had a gun.”
During the Salmon Lane robbery on August 4 the duo demanded the keys to the safe. “Perry puts his hand in his pocket and staff took that as an indication he had a gun,” said the prosecutor.
“The members of staff plead not to be hurt and Perry tells them they will not be if they do what they are told.”
At William Hill’s Dawson made a gun threat in front of Perry. “He says he will shoot staff if they do not co-operate with the safe.”
Typically Perry followed Dawson behind the counters. “They sought to target the safes, not just the tills,” said Mr. Brown.
“They were often disguised with sunglasses, caps and t-shirts pulled up over the lower part of their faces.”
During the raid on Ladbrokes, Kingswood, Dawson simply vaulted the counter. “Perry encourages him to get on with it and acts as a look-out as £4,500 is snatched.”
Staff later describe their ordeal as “petrifying”.
In Fishponds Road Dawson vaulted the counter, kicking the cashier in the face and breaking his glasses, as Perry acted as lookout.
The pair even tackle a have-a-go hero at Tewksbury Post Office who tried to trap Dawson inside the secure area.
“There was a member of the public who courageously intervened and this defendant kicked open the door to allow Dawson to escape.”
After the Leamington Spa van robbery the cashbox was abandoned by the side of the motorway after security dye ruined the notes.
Perry gave himself up at Hounslow Police Station on February 12, this year, three days after The Sun newspaper printed his notorious ‘clown’ picture.
His lawyer Mr. Khali Missuri told the court: “He has battled with the problem of his homosexuality as he grew up on the tough Aylesbury Estate, North Peckham. He has had to hide who he is.
“He has an unhealthy desire to be accepted in the neighbourhood and this has led to his criminal behaviour.”
The Ford walkout was triggered by a relationship he formed with another inmate, explained the lawyer. “He had been ridiculed and threatened.
“At the end he wanted to get caught and get out of this mess he was in.”
Afterwards DC Mark Murdoch said: “He is a dangerous robber and got the sentence he deserved. That is the aim of the Flying Squad. To arrest people like him and put them in prison.”
Outside, Perry’s father Anthony Perry snr. 61, a reformed villain who now tutors inmates at tough Wandsworth Prison said: “It’s my fault he is here.
“My father, my grandfather appeared in this court, I appeared here and now Lee. It’s the unfortunate consequence of a family history.
“He stole five million pounds worth of computer chips when he was fifteen years-old. He got four years for that,” added Mr. Perry snr.
During the manhunt a police source said: "Perry gives the impression of being a clown but he's a very dangerous man. Someone knows where he is and can wipe the smile off his face."
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