Two raiders who robbed staff at a Coventry bingo casino after threatening them with a machete were quickly caught after the police recognised them on a CCTV recording.
And at Warwick Crown Court, Gary Morgan and Daniel Pollock both pleaded guilty to the robbery at Shipleys Casino in Walsgrave Road.
Pollock (48) of Argyle Street, Coventry, was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Although he also admitted possessing the machete, Morgan (51) of Hyde Road, Coventry, was jailed for four years after being given more credit for his plea, which he had indicated at an earlier stage.
Prosecutor Catherine Harris said that on June 11 two women were working in Shipleys Casino, where there was just one customer, when Pollock peered through the window at just after 9pm.
A security camera showed he put on a deerstalker-type hat and, with his head bowed, walked in with Morgan, who was holding a machete behind his leg, concealed by his coat.
Morgan went up to the counter and brandished the machete towards one of the women before grabbing her by the shoulder.
Both terrified women were then pushed towards the office as Morgan ordered: “Move, move, take me to the safe.”
He and Pollock pulled the women into the office, shouting for money as they did so.
Once in the office, one of them grabbed some money from a pot on the desk, and they searched cupboards and drawers before making off with a total of around £250 in cash.
They also took a purse containing a further £20 and bank cards from a handbag belonging to one of the women, said Miss Harris.
When he was interviewed Morgan, who had previous convictions for offences including robbery and violence, admitted his part in the robbery and that he had the machete.
During his interview, Pollock, who also had convictions for violence, claimed that, while he had been there with Morgan, it had been under some duress, and that he had no prior knowledge of the robbery.
But Judge Andrew Lockhart QC pointed out that the CCTV recording clearly showed him peering through the window to check the premises before putting on the deerstalker and going in.
Elizabeth Power, for Pollock, said: “He tells me this was a stupid act on his part, and he regrets his actions.”
David Murray, for Morgan, said he had committed the offence after turning back to drugs following the death of his brother.
Jailing the two men, Judge Lockhart told them: “In every sense this was a joint offence. You both knew what you were going to do, and there was a degree of planning.
“I am satisfied that whilst you, Mr Morgan, carried the weapon, you, Mr Pollock, were aware of it throughout.”
