Plymouth Ladbrokes armed raider Alan Levers was 'held face down', inquest hears
A PLYMOUTH armed raider who tried to rob a bookies died after he was disarmed, restrained and held face down on the floor by members of the public, an inquest has been told.
Alan Levers, 50, from Honicknowle, was wearing a gas mask when he went into the Ladbrokes branch on Crownhill Road in the Devon city shortly before 7pm last Friday.
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An inquest into his death was opened this afternoon, at which it was heard a post-mortem examination had yet to establish a cause of death.
Speaking at the hearing, police inspector Steve Brownlow said the unemployed man was carrying an imitation pistol as he attempted to raid the shop.
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He added: "He (Levers) was restrained and disarmed by three members of the public.
"He was held face down on the floor."
He said police officers later handcuffed and arrested Levers while he was on the floor, but noticed he was not moving.
"They (police) removed the mask and commenced CPR," Mr Brownlow said.
"Paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene."
The time of death was confirmed at 7.37pm and Levers' body was identified the following day by his girlfriend.
Coroner Ian Arrow adjourned the hearing for a later date.
Police praised "brave" members of the public after the incident, saying those who restrained Levers would not have known if the gun was a fake.
The incident had been voluntarily referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, as officers from Devon and Cornwall Police had arrested Levers at the scene before his death was confirmed.
But a statement on the force website later read: "The IPCC has contacted Devon and Cornwall Police to say that having made an assessment, this matter should be subject to a local investigation."
A police spokesman confirmed this ended the IPCC's involvement, and that Devon and Cornwall Police's investigation into the circumstances of the incident would continue as normal.
Levers' family later apologised for the armed raider's actions.
11 Comments
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by mesler
Friday, February 01 2013, 1:30AM
“I know, I know ... let's sue Ladbrokes and the brave guys who stopped him, and the police ... and that Janey Socks for her attempt at taking the pith, then with the money we get, let's build a memorial for Mr Alan Levers Esq on the barbican - with the etiphat "Plimuffs Finest Chav"
Sorted.
Michael Fesler [Jakarta]”
by mesler
Friday, February 01 2013, 1:26AM
“I know, I know ... let's sue Ladbrokes and the brave guys who stopped him, and the police ... and that Janey Socks for her attempt at taking the pith, then with the money we get, let's build a memorial for Mr Alan Levers Esq on the barbican - with the etiphat "Plimuffs Finest Chav"
Sorted.
Michael Fesler [Jakarta]”
by Hearald
Friday, February 01 2013, 12:04AM
“Surely betting shops have cameras so when can we see the footage?”
by Janey_Socks
Thursday, January 31 2013, 11:39PM
“Suspicion of a gas leak is enough that they should have closed for public safety.”
by londonexile1
Thursday, January 31 2013, 11:12PM
“Without using any sarcastic comments I will state the obvious. If you walk into a Betting Shop with an offensive weapon with the intention to threaten and rob innocent working class people then you deserve all that comes to you. The good working class people of this country have a habit of fighting back.... Good Riddance”
by Plymouthlad63
Thursday, January 31 2013, 10:44PM
“Janey_Socks said Also, they should have shut the shop if there was suspicion of a gas leak.
Where in this report does it mention a gas leak ? You fool.
Kezzer1981 said to die slowly of suffocation would have been awful.
Are you a doctor ?The post-mortem results have not been released yet but you already know how he died.....of suffocation
Let me tell you that wearing a gas mask does not suffocate you.
He wore it to hide his ID nothing more and nothing less.”
by jabbathebutt
Thursday, January 31 2013, 10:12PM
“@Kezzer1981 .... wouldnt that have been against his human rights to wear a gasmask while commiting an armed robbery in this alice in wonderland country ? Had he lived he would have sued .
Fact is ... if he hadnt of walked into a bookies ( for the second time in his illustrious career as a bloke who would willingly give you fifty pence of someone elses money- as previously stated ) with a gun (replica or not ) he would stilll be alive today to carry on his charitable work.
I feel more sympathy with the innocent ones who now have to live with this on their minds forever - and all because they happened to be in the right place at the wrong time .
Robin Hood he was not . Far from it . The next thing will be a service at St Andrews church and a shut down of Royal Parade so everyone can doff their caps to this hero.”
by OscarDelta
Thursday, January 31 2013, 9:23PM
“I think cause of death needs to be recorded as "natural selection".”
by JMonners
Thursday, January 31 2013, 9:15PM
“why should the people restraining him have any regard for his welfare? As far as they were concerned at that point he was prepared to shoot them”
by Janey_Socks
Thursday, January 31 2013, 8:05PM
“Also, they should have shut the shop if there was suspicion of a gas leak.”