Four men sentenced for Dawlish robbery

Four men from Avon have been sentenced to more than 36 years in total for the robbery at the Golden Sands Holiday complex in Dawlish in August last year.

The robbery took place in the early hours of 27 August 2013.

Men wearing balaclavas forced members of staff to open a safe containing a large quantity of cash.

One member of staff sustained a fractured shoulder and arm, and deep lacerations to various positions on his body, after being assaulted with an axe and a hammer.

Craig Lockyer, 28, Karl Daniels, 38, and Dean Smart, 27, pleaded guilty to robbery and Michael Kelly, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle.

The men were sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Friday 8 August: Lockyer received 12 years, Daniels received 11 and a half years, Smart received nine years and Kelly received three years and nine months.

Smart was located in April 2014 after a nationwide search involving several officers from Devon and Cornwall Police and Avon and Somerset Constabulary, and a feature on the BBC Crimewatch programme.

Detective Inspector James Tarr, Teignbridge and South Hams CID, said: “This was an exceptionally violent robbery committed by an organised group from the Bath area. They left the victim traumatised and in the need of urgent medical treatment. We are very pleased that these violent individuals have been convicted and sentenced to prison.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the immense courage displayed by the victim and also praise the dedication and determination by the detectives involved in this case, ensuring that every member of the team was convicted.”