A MAN who took part in a robbery at a Suffolk supermarket during which a security guard was injured has been warned to expect a “substantial” jail term when he is sentenced next month.

Jane Hunt

A MAN who took part in a robbery at a Suffolk supermarket during which a security guard was injured has been warned to expect a “substantial” jail term when he is sentenced next month.

Patrick Mumford, 43, admitted robbing security guard Alan Britton of a quantity of cash at the Tesco store at Cedars Link, Stowmarket, on July 9 last year when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

Adjourning the case for a pre-sentence report to address the issue of dangerousness Judge Roderick Newton told Mumford, of Dagenham, that he could expect a “very substantial” custodial sentence when he returned to court next month.

“This was a sophisticated commercial robbery,” said the judge.

The court heard that the robbery, which involved other people, took place at around lunchtime and left a security guard injured.

Jude Durr for Mumford said his client had a number of previous convictions but had not been in trouble for the last ten years.

He described Mumford's involvement in the robbery as an “unfortunate and catastrophic lapse”.

He said Mumford had a young family and his partner was expecting another baby.

Judge Newton turned down an application for bail and remanded Mumford in custody.