Armed knife robber freed on suspended sentence struck again at same Boston garage

Matthew Holland was originally given a two year suspended jail sentence for two robberies in Boston including one at the Esso Service Station on John Adams Way, Boston, when he was dealt with at Lincoln Crown Court back in January.

That sentence was overturned by the Court of Appeal on 11 March and replaced by an immediate jail term of three years and nine months and today that sentence was increased further when he was given a two and a half year consecutive sentence for his latest robbery carried out at the same petrol station.

Today Lincoln Crown Court heard that in the short period while Holland was released under the suspended sentence he returned to the petrol station, and carried out a "carbon copy" robbery.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said that Holland went into the premises at 1 am on 25 February this year and approached the counter.

"His face was partially concealed and he was carrying a large kitchen knife described as having a six to seven-inch blade.

"The member of staff was in the rear of the shop and went through when she heard the door open.

"She was immediately frightened when she saw the large knife on the counter. She thought he was joking at first."

Then Holland said "Fill the bag with all the money from the till and the cigarettes."

The woman put notes and coins, totalling around £180, into a carrier bag and then filled two more bags with cigarettes as Holland apologised to her. Holland then walked out with the bags.

Police were contacted and he was arrested a short time later when officers discovered him cycling along Church Street in Boston.

Holland ,31, of Wellington Road, Boston, admitted robbery and possession of a bladed article as a result of the incident on 25 February. He was given a two and a half year jail sentence consecutive to the three years and nine months he is now serving.

Judge John Pini QC told him "This was an extremely serious offence in flagrant breach of the suspended sentence."

Michael Cranmer-Brown, in mitigation, said that Holland's life fell apart during 2019.

"The defendant has gone significantly off the rails through a gambling habit and the break down of his relationship.

"He became very depressed. He was prescribed diazepam and began to misuse that and became addicted to it. He was combining the misuse of that with heavy consumption of alcohol."

Mr Cranmer-Brown said that Holland appeared to be making progress after he received the suspended sentence but went off the rails again when he was told that the prosecution was appealing his sentence and he was facing a lengthy sentence of immediate custody.