Men Sentenced for Sandbanks Gunpoint Robbery

Imprisonment has been handed down to two men following an armed robbery at a Sandbanks residence where they held two women at gunpoint. Ashley Fulton and Aaron Evans, both aged 42, gained forcible entry into the Poole property on 21 February last year by impersonating police officers. Fulton received a life sentence, with a minimum term of nine years and 192 days to be served. Evans was sentenced to 12 years in prison, accompanied by an additional four-year extended licence period. According to Dorset Police, one of the female victims was bound during the incident, while the second woman, who returned home during the ongoing robbery, was pulled inside and subjected to threats. Police reported that both victims suffered assaults prior to being confined in the bathroom. The perpetrators absconded with jewellery and the mobile phones belonging to the victims. Detectives stated that Evans was apprehended in Merseyside in April 2023. Fulton was taken into custody at a hotel adjacent to Heathrow Airport on 14 May 2023, alongside his partner, Lacey Langton. Police indicated that Langton had illicitly acquired a passport for Fulton using a fictitious name, and the couple intended to journey to Morocco. Det Insp Shaun Inkpen commented: “This was an extremely distressing incident where the victims were put through a terrifying ordeal within their own home.” He further added: “I would like to express my thanks to them both as they have displayed immense courage and bravery throughout our investigation.” Fulton, whose address was not fixed, received his sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday, following his admission to two counts of robbery, possession of an imitation firearm during the commission of a schedule one offence, and several fraud-related charges. Evans, a resident of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, was incarcerated on 23 September, having confessed to two counts of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm while committing a schedule one offence. Langton, 24, of Wareham, had previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and possessing an identity document with improper intention. She was sentenced to 14 months in prison by the same court on 24 September. For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.