THE five men arrested in connection with the robbery at Deacon & Son jewellers in Marlborough in September have now all pleaded guilty to the offence.

Paul Gallimore, Marcus Cohen and Cristian Coulson were the final three to enter their pleas at Swindon Crown Court yesterday for the September 17 offence. They will join Linton Summerfield, 20, of Bushberry Avenue, and Leroy Green, 35, of Camelia Road, both Coventry, in late January for sentencing in Swindon.

“I suppose it was dealt with very quickly,” said Richard Deacon, managing director of Deacons. “Obviously, we are delighted that all five were apprehended and obviously pleased that they have pleaded guilty.

“Most importantly, I would like to say, on the record, thank you to Wiltshire Police for the way they have conducted themselves throughout this whole affair.

“We knew this case would be difficult to deal with, but they have been brilliant and they did respond very quickly.”

The guilty pleas mean there is no need for a trial, and no need for witnesses to relive the crime, which Richard is very pleased about.

“Absolutely relieved, because at the end of the day, this was a stressful experience for all concerned and not forcing them to relive the whole thing is very pleasing.”

DS Tom Straker, of Swindon CID, said: “We are very happy with this outcome. This is the result of a good team effort from different parts of the police, from the day it happened throughout the whole investigation.

“Thanks should also go to members of the public from Marlborough, who played a huge part in this case.

“This was a horrifying experience for the victims of the crime. For them to relive their ordeal in court would have been terrible.

“Being faced with men in masks trying to rob your store is something nobody should ever have to go through.”

Gallimore, 33, of Rugby Road, Coulson, 19, of Heather Road, both Coventry, and Cohen, 33, of no fixed abode, were each read a charge of robbery yesterday and they all responded with a guilty plea.

Coulson appeared via video link at Winchester Prison.

Toby Long, representing Gallimore, requested Judge Douglas Field sentence his client at the same hearing yesterday in order to expedite the process and bring the case to a close, but the latter declined.

In looking ahead to the quintet’s sentencing in January, with a date yet to be decided, Mr Long and Mr Tiwana, representing Cohen, each suggested their clients would indicate they had been recruited on the morning of the robbery.