Gunman holds his hands up to robbery at Whitstable pharmacy

An armed robber who held staff at gunpoint before stealing from a chemist in Whitstable has been jailed for 12 years.

Simon Wightman walked into the business in Faversham Road, Seasalter on the morning of 5 December 2022 and told staff to get on the floor.

He took prescription drugs before leaving the scene in a silver VW Golf. Officers attended and a witness gave a partial registration number of the vehicle.

Arrest

Quick searches identified a car owned by Wightman as a suspect vehicle and he was subsequently arrested.

His home in Boughton-under-Blean and business premises in Herne Bay were searched.

At his home, officers found the stolen medication, clothes matching those he was wearing during the offence, a shortened shotgun, a 9mm pistol, and ammunition for that pistol.

Wightman was charged with robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of an altered firearm and possession of ammunition without authority.

Court

The 52-year-old, from Boughton, pleaded guilty to possessing the prohibited weapon and ammunition.

Following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court, he was found guilty of robbery, possession of an altered firearm and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery.

He was jailed for 12 years at Canterbury Crown Court on 16 June 2023.

Detective Constable Rebecca Keeler, Kent Police’s investigating officer, said: ‘This robbery was terrifying for the staff and those present in the chemist at the time.

‘A rapid response on the day of the incident saw Wightman quickly identified as a suspect and arrested, as well as the removal of all firearms from his possession.

‘I hope the sentence now imposed sends out a message about how seriously offences of this kind are taken by Kent Police and the courts.’