Masked man is jailed for gunpoint robbery

Leon Hazel, 37, has been jailed for nine years for his involvement in a masked robbery where he held a woman at gunpoint. Picture: Sussex Police

At about 7pm on October 27, three men wearing Guy Fawkes masks knocked on the door of a flat in Thorn Road.

The owner of the flat, who was 21 at the time, was forced to hand over approximately £1,000 in cash, which she had saved for a trip to Disneyland for her and her young daughter.

The trio also stole two mobile phones during the robbery – one belonging to the flat owner and the other belonging to her 23-year-old friend. Neither of the women were injured.

Leon Hazel, 37, of Wilfrid Road, Hove, was convicted of robbery and possession of a firearm in March this year, and sentenced at Chichester Crown Court on Wednesday, May 11 to nine years’ imprisonment.

Sussex Police Detective Sergeant Simon Dunn said: “This robbery was a terrible ordeal for both these young women. I am just relieved that the young child was not inside the flat at the time.

“I am very happy with the sentence and thankfully a dangerous man is now in prison where he no longer poses a risk to others.”

Enquiries are still ongoing in relation to two further suspects involved in the robbery.

Anyone with information can contact [email protected] or call 101, quoting serial 1476 of 27/10.