AN ARMED robber who committed a string of violent crimes after escaping from jail has been given another life sentence.
David Curwin, 50, should have been serving time in Sudbury Prison, Derbyshire after being convicted of similar offences in 2004 and sentenced to life with a minimum of 10 years.
But he escaped on February 1 and committed eight armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery at banks and betting shops across London. The crimes, which took place between February 11 and May 24, included armed robberies at William Hill bookies in The Vale and Natwest bank in Victoria Road, both in Acton.
He pointed a handgun at staff and on two occasions he held it to the head of female customers, one more than 70 years old.
Curwin stole more than £34,000 but was spotted on CCTV which helped detectives trace him back to a home in Acton. He was arrested there on June 12. Officers found an air pistol and also arrested a 36-year-old woman who was later released without charge.
At Kingston Crown Court last Monday (15), homeless Curwin was sentenced to a second life sentence with a 10 year minimum tariff for the robberies, three years for the firearms offences and nine months for absconding from prison, all to run concurrently.
