Poker pro Tom Carpenter Robbed With Gun

Saturday January 12, 2013 : POKER PRO SURVIVED ARMED ROBBERY
 
On the eve of his departure to play in a major tournament, UK pro Tom Carpenter had a scary experience
 
UK poker pro Tom Carpenter lost his world-championship stake money and was subjected to a frightening experience when a gang of masked burglars forced the back door and invaded his home in Tamworth, UK, a court in Stafford heard this week.
 
The Tamworth Herald reports that the poker pro was preparing to fly to Las Vegas last year for a major tournament and had in his possession US$ 5,000 dollars and around GBP 7,000 he had drawn that day to finance his stay in the US and tournament buy-ins.
 
Prosecutors speculate that whilst giving his address when obtaining foreign currency, Carpenter may have been overheard, prompting the home invasion by the gang, one of whom threateningly wielded a machete in demanding money from Carpenter.
 
Police used forensic techniques to track down and arrest two of the robbers, David Burns (30) and Andrew Craig (27) who each admitted a charge of burglary. Burns was jailed for 42 months and Craig for 32 months.
 
Judge Michael Chambers QC told them: "This was a highly planned and professional burglary. It must have been an extremely frightening experience."
 
Along with the fingerprints of the defendants uncovered by forensic testing, police also found a bloodstain matched to a third suspect who has since died.