Man Jailed for Brutal Robbery at Ash Pub Landlord’s Home

Published on: 24 Dec, 2021
Updated on: 24 Dec, 2021

Daniel Carrington Picture: Derbyshire police.

By David Reading

A 36-year-old man who brutally robbed the landlord of the Lion Brewery, Ash, and his family, has been jailed for ten years.

Daniel Carrington, a chef from the East Midlands, was one of two masked men who forced their way into the family’s bungalow next to the pub, attacked both the landlord and landlady with a handgun and got away with almost £6,000.

Carrington, who was on bail at the time after robbing his grandmother, was linked to the Lion Brewery attack by his DNA, which was found on the knife he used to threaten the landlady. It was discovered at the scene of the robbery.

The Lion Brewery in Ash

The ordeal happened early one morning last December when the two robbers, armed with a gun and knives, went to the bungalow posing as delivery men.

Landlady Lindsey Armitage was struck over the head with a handgun. One of the men burst into the bedroom where he found 81-year-old landlord Mike Armitage. He pressed a gun into his face and threatened to kill him. Mr Armitage was thrown down onto the floor and his wife – who was tied up – was laid down next to him.

Their 10-year-old son Paul had gone to school. Their daughter Lexi, who was seven at the time, realised the robbery was going on and hid in her bedroom.

Mike and his wife Lyndsey. Picture taken in 2019.

Mrs Armitage told the Guildford Dragon after the robbery: “I tried to stop them getting in but they kept hitting me on the head with the gun which split my head and ear open. All they wanted was money. They took our holiday savings.”

Armed police arrived rapidly on the scene but the robbers had escaped.

Derby Crown Court heard that earlier that year, Carrington, of The Quadrant, Oakham, in the East Midlands, had tricked his 84-year-old grandmother into leaving her home in Derbyshire and going to the local hospital so he could rob the place.

He smashed his way through the patio door and stole a safe containing treasured family war medals and £5,000 in cash.

In court, Carrington was said to have been coerced into turning to crime by people he owed money to. It is thought he had visited the Lion Brewery a few years ago.

He admitted aggravated burglary, burglary, and possession of a knife. A second suspect has been arrested by Surrey police and released under investigation.