Jail for armed raiderBy Enfield IndependentA SOUTHGATE man who terrified staff during a series of armed raids was jailed for 12 years at the Old Bailey. Ras Palmer, 19, of Dalrymple Close, was already on bail for plotting to rob a Waltham Cross petrol station when he carried out the raids starting with a robbery in Camden Lock on September 9, 2001. Palmer bound and gagged a nightclub manager after pretending to inquire about work at Bar Risa in the Dingwells complex, Camden Town. He rammed a gun into Damien Lee's mouth and subjected him to a terrifying countdown to death giving him ten seconds to remove the CCTV video tape from the machine before escaping with £22,000. Palmer struck again on February 14, 2002. He stole £725 during a raid at the William Hill bookmakers in Chaseside, Enfield. Three days later he and an accomplice attacked manager Jerry Burke at the Rudolph nightclub in Tottenham High Road, escaping with £5,000. Mr Burke had to undergo an emergency operation to remove a blood clot on his brain after he was thrown to the floor and hit across the head. Mr Burke has no memory of the incident to this day. On March 5 Palmer and an accomplice held the manager and staff of Travel Choice in Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill, at gunpoint. He fled with £9,462 in currency and travellers cheques. A pregnant member of staff was taken to hospital after the raid and Glyn Williams, who had been robbed before, can no longer face working at a bureau de change branch. Palmer and an accomplice also tried to rob the Co-op shop in Bramley Road, Oakwood on the same day but fled because the manager did not have the keys to the safe. He was arrested in a Ford Fiesta in the West End the following day after attempts were made to cash the stolen travellers cheques. Palmer, described as "out of control" by his barrister Mr David Gottlieb, was convicted of robberies at Southgate, Friern Barnet, Edmonton and Enfield as well as the conspiracy charge at his trial. He admitted two charges of robbery and two of possessing a firearm with intent. Palmer slumped in the dock with his head in his hands as the sentence was announced. 09:21 Thursday 8th August 2002
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