A BANK robber mum-of-three who took part in a ￡25,000 heist has been jailed after going on a lavish spending spree with her share of the cash.

       Shera Patrick, 29, acted as a getaway driver in a 153mph Audi A3 when two masked men targeted a security van at a Lloyds TSB near Manchester.

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       Shera Patrick who was the getaway driver for an armed robbery Credit: Cavendish 4

       She has been jailed for more than four years Credit: Cavendish 4

       The gang targeted a security van in a ￡25,000 bank heist Credit: Cavendish

       Police arrested her at the wheel of the Audi two days later after examining CCTV of the raid.

       In the car cops found a JD Sports receipt for ￡436 at the Manchester Fort Retail Park which was dated less than two hours after the robbery - with all the goods bought in cash.

       A typed receipt dated on the day of her arrest revealed she had bought a three-piece sofa and a 50 inch television in three ￡500 cash payments.

       In the moments before the broad daylight attack, Patrick was seen circling the area in the high performance S-Line vehicle whilst her accomplices kept watch on the guard before ambushing him in the street.

       An hour after the raid she recorded a voice note on her mobile phone wishing her gang had got more in the blag saying: ''Aww I'm s**ting myself mate but we only got f**king 10 out of it."

       In a statement, guard Jason Cook who works for G4s told police: ''Nobody has the right to assault me while I am trying to earn an honest living doing a job which I have done for around 10 years.

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       "This incident has left me shaken and traumatised at the thought of being further attacked.

       "I have been in a similar situation back in 2005 where I was assaulted and held under duress.

       "The incident has brought back memories from the 2005 incident which I have never had closure from as no offenders have been brought to justice."

       At Manchester Crown Court, Patrick who lives in Sale near Altrincham and accomplice Thomas Warwick, also 29 of Burnage were each jailed for four years and one month after they admitted robbery.

       A second man William Robinson will be sentenced later.

       The incident took place at 1:30pm on June 22 last year, after Mr Cook had parked his G4S van in Longsight to make cash collections using a secure IBOX.

       Shera was caught on CCTV dropping Robinson and Warwick at the bank before driving off and parking.

       The men watched Mr Cook carrying out deliveries before hoping back in the car - and Shera drove around another loop.

       BANK HEIST

       Mr Philip Barnes, prosecuting, said: ''At that point Robinson and Warwick both exited the Audi with their balaclavas pulled down and both sprinted along the road.

       "As they approached Mr Cook from behind, he heard a voice commanding him to "drop the box. Before he released it, he was immediately struck on the right wrist with what he described as a black club or baton.

       ''Upon being struck, the IBOX fell from Cook's hand onto the floor. Robinson then attempted to pick the cash box up, but dropped it. Warwick then collected the cash box and they both sprinted back to the Audi."

       Mr Cook then pressed a silent alarm and a detonator which destroys the money in the box.

       Police stopped the Audi in Cheetham Hill at 4:15pm on June 24 with Patrick at the wheel. Initially she falsely gave the name of her brother's girlfriend who had rented the Audi but later admitted her real identity. She gave no comment in interview.

       Patrick who has been in custody since her arrest had 33 previous offences on her record, including theft, robbery, assault and fraud.

       'NOT SOPHISTICATED'

       In mitigation her counsel Peter Malone said: ''Unfortunately, lifestyle choices and mixing with the wrong people has brought her to this court. She accepts her role and was the driver driving around and then driving away.

       "The robbery was not the most sophisticated of robberies. The number plate had not been changed and she had not made attempts to conceal her appearance.

       “The car was rented by her brother's partner but she was a named driver on that insurance vehicle."

       Mr Malone added: "She has three children who are currently in the care of her father. She suffers from anxiety and depression and her mental health has suffered throughout her time in custody. She says she has lost five stone in weight and has difficulty eating.

       “She wishes to put these matters behind her and return to her children and continue with her studies of Global Business Management. She is continuing with her education and taken maths and English exams. She has a job in custody but she wants to move on and put this behind her.

       Sentencing Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: “This was a short-lived episode but is of little consolation to Mr Cook who was left shocked, shaken and traumatised by what he has had to experience.

       "Miss Patrick you went on a spending spree shortly after and there is a message expressing the disappointment of you only getting ￡10,000 and how each of you expected slightly more than that.

       "There was some planning but it was not extensive although there was use of a weapon to inflict the violence. There was some harm but the harm was not particularly serious physically or psychologically.

       "This robbery was deliberately targeted for high value goods. It was not a spur of the moment offence. Miss Patrick, you played an essential role as the getaway driver and you played it expertly.”

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       Accomplice Thomas Warwick Credit: Cavendish