Jail for gunman after "terrifying" robberies on letting agents

A gunman who described himself as a would-be tenant has been jailed after two “terrifying” robberies on letting agencies. 

The Enfield Independent newspaper in north London says Mark O’Reilly used a sawn-off double barrelled shotgun when he lured a letting agent into a house in Haringey. 

The first robbery happened in June when O’Reilly - pretending to be interested in renting a property - met a 24-year-old estate agent at a house in Bromley-by-Bow. O’Reilly then bound the feet of the agent and a 20 year old man already living at the property, scoured the flat and stole numerous belongings. 

He held a gun to their heads to extort pin numbers and passwords for their bank cards, computers and mobile phones.

In June, at a nearby property, the Enfield Independent says O’Reilly met another agent to see a house; once inside he threatened the agent with a sawn-off shot gun and ordered to hand over his mobile phone, cash, driving licence, car and flat keys.

O’Reilly, who pleaded guilty, was jailed for 12 years for robbery and 15 years for possessing a firearm.

A police spokesman said after the trial: "O'Reilly was calculated in the planning and execution of these crimes, he has shown a cold indifference to the suffering of his victims. We hope that the sentence he has received helps the victims in their recovery from the lasting mental trauma he inflicted. We know for a fact that he was planning further similar robberies when he was arrested and are pleased to have prevented him from carrying them out."