Man jailed for botched robbery that left him and woman with serious burns

A Pulborough man has been jailed for four years for a botched robbery attempt that left him and a woman with serious burns.
Mark LeadbeatterMark Leadbeatter
Mark Leadbeatter

Mark Leadbeatter, 53, of The Spinney, was sentenced at Hove Trial Centre on Friday (October 2). He had pleaded guilty to robbery.

Leadbeatter stole cash from a Chinese takeaway van parked in Billingshurst Library Car Park, Mill Lane, on May 2.

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The minutes of Billingshurst Parish Council’s annual parish council meeting on May 20 detail the incident in a report by PCSO Julie Green.

The minutes of the meeting note that Leadbeatter entered the Wings Chinese Takeaway van and demanded money from three female members of staff.

A struggle broke out between Leadbeatter and one of the women, during which a wok containing hot fat was spilt over the two, leaving the pair seriously injured.

In the report, PCSO Green said: “He had a woolly hat pulled over his face and had his jumper pulled up to cover the bottom of his face.

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“He demanded money from the three females working on the van. He was given some money but said it wasn’t enough.

“He reached over to a tin and in a struggle a wok with hot fat in was spilt over the suspect and one of the women.

“He was found collapsed in Coombe Hill and arrested. One female had minor burns, one had more serious injuries to her neck and back. The suspect had serious burns to his face, neck and hands.”

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