Vicious robber handed two life sentences

Bolton Crown Court heard how former Tyldesley man Gary Monks, 43, held a gun to the head of a terrified pensioner during a post office robbery on the border of Tyldesley and Atherton. He was taken to the cells and returned to Forest Bank prison, Agecroft.

The jury learned that Monks is already serving a life sentence imposed last year for two violent robberies. Sitting at Bolton Crown Court, Judge John Roberts sentenced Monks to two mandatory life sentences for robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. He also gave him eight years for attempted robbery. The judge recommended Monks serves at least four years 149 days, which takes into account time served on remand, before his case can even be considered by the parole board. The sentence makes no material difference to Monks as it was concurrent to a life sentence with a specified term of six years 232 days sentence handed out last year by the same judge.

Monks, of Derbyshire Hill Road, Parr, St Helens denied robbing May Weaver of £65 and attempted robbery at the Hindsford Post Office in Tyldesley Road on April 21, 1998. He also denied possessing an imitation firearm.

The court had earlier been told that a masked gunman had shoved a gun to the head of the terrified pensioner and demanded money during the bungled post office robbery.

May Weaver had just received her pension when she was grabbed from behind by the robber who stuck a pistol to her head and shouted: " Give me the money or she gets it."

But postmaster Alan Mayoh, who tragically died aged 58 only a few weeks before the start of the trial, refused and pressed the alarm and Monks tried but failed to get into the shop till. He released his frightened victim who ran from the shop and after chasing staff into the living quarters, Monks left, taking Mrs Weaver's £65 pension money.

But as he fled from the shop he ripped away a mask and threw it on the floor watched by Mrs Weaver who was recovering from her ordeal outside.

Last year Bolton Crown Court heard how the widow of the late Sir Kenneth Oxford, a former Chief Constable of Mersyside, had been assaulted and robbed by Monks.

Lady Muriel Oxford, who has since died, was slapped hard and had her rings ripped from her fingers by Monks. She was left tightly tied to a chair after Monks forced his way into her Rainford home.

Leigh poultry farmer Harry Tomlinson was left with a fractured skull and brain damage after Monks robbed him and hit him repeatedly over the head when the pensioner bravely fought back.

He was found guilty of causing grevious bodily harm with intent, aggravated burglary and guilty of robbery by a majority verdict of 11 to 1.

He had been charged with causing Harry Tomlinson grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated burglary at Tomlinson's home at Bowland Field Farm alongside the East Lancashire Road at Leigh, possession of an imitation firearm, namely a revolver, and robbery of Lady Oxford.