Knife robber is jailed after Boston pub landlord's anger over initial suspended sentence

Matthew Holland, 31, was given two-year suspended sentence at Lincoln Crown Court in January after admitting robbery at the New Inn pub in Boston and an Esso petrol station in the town.

Furious Dean Gross was left disgusted by the sentence, and speaking to the Standard, called for action to get the sentence increased.

He said at the time: “The Government is supposed to be clamping down on knife crime. What message is this sending out to people?”.

Now, after an intervention by the Solicitor General Michael Hollis, the sentence has been increased by the Court of Appeal, and Holland has been jailed for three years and nine months.

On 30th November last year, Holland spent the afternoon drinking and gambling in an amusement arcade in Boston. After running out of money, he entered the pub and produced a large kitchen knife and told a barmaid to empty the till. He left with nearly £500 in cash.

After returning to the arcade and gambling away the proceeds of the robber before committing another raid in the early hours of the morning.

He entered Esso petrol station with a meat clever and asked the cashier to hand over cash and other goods. Holland left with nearly £3500 worth of goods.

After the hearing Mr Hollis said: “Holland’s reckless and dangerous behaviour demonstrated a complete disregard for the law. His sentence has rightly been increased today at the Court of Appeal.”