Robbery Sentencing Guidelines UK: Armed and Aggravated Robbery
Last reviewed: July 2026
The legal framework
Robbery is theft carried out with force or the threat of force. It is triable only in the Crown Court and the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. Sentences are set using the Sentencing Council robbery guidelines, which require the judge to assess culpability (A, B or C – largely driven by weapons, violence and planning) and harm (category 1 to 3 – physical/psychological injury and value taken), then apply aggravating and mitigating factors.
The three guideline strands and sentence ranges
| Type of robbery | Covers | Overall guideline range |
|---|---|---|
| Street and less sophisticated commercial | Muggings, robberies on transport, small shops and businesses | High-level community order up to 12 years’ custody |
| Professionally planned commercial | Organised raids on banks, security vans, jewellers, warehouses | 18 months up to 20 years’ custody |
| Robbery in a dwelling | Force or threats used to steal inside someone’s home | 1 year up to 16 years’ custody |
Within each strand, the guideline sets starting points: for example, a category 1A street robbery (weapon produced, serious harm) has a starting point of eight years. Deterrent sentencing for knife and firearm robberies is well established in case law, and where a firearm is carried, separate firearms offences with minimum terms often apply on top.
Aggravating and mitigating factors
Common aggravating features include targeting vulnerable victims, offending in a group, night-time attacks, wearing disguises, previous convictions and offending on bail or licence. Mitigation includes genuine remorse, no relevant previous convictions, age or immaturity, and mental disorder. A guilty plea at the first opportunity earns up to one-third off the sentence. Under the Sentencing Act 2026, most standard determinate sentences are moving to an earned-progression release point of around one-third of the term – see our Sentencing Act 2026 guide – though serious violent offences attract later release points.
• “Armed robbery is a separate offence” – there is one offence of robbery; being armed raises culpability and may add firearms charges, but the charge is still robbery.
• “Nothing was taken, so it’s not robbery” – an attempt or an assault with intent to rob is charged and sentenced in much the same territory.
• “A fake or unloaded weapon doesn’t count” – producing an imitation firearm still places the offender in the highest culpability bracket.
• “First-time offenders avoid custody” – for robbery, custody is the norm; only the lowest-harm, lowest-culpability cases cross the community threshold.
FAQ
What is the average sentence for robbery?
Most street robberies result in custody measured in years, commonly two to six depending on category; organised commercial robberies with weapons regularly exceed ten.
Do young offenders get shorter sentences?
Defendants under 18 are sentenced under separate youth guidelines with a strong emphasis on age and maturity; 18–25-year-olds’ immaturity is also recognised mitigation.
Where do robbery sentences get served?
Usually in closed conditions first – see our guide to types of prison – with progression depending on risk and behaviour.
Where can I check the official guidelines?
On the Sentencing Council website, which publishes all three robbery guidelines in full, and the CPS legal guidance on Theft Act offences.
You can also try our sentence estimator below – it is a rough educational tool, not legal advice; always speak to a solicitor about a real case.
⚖️ UK Prison Sentence Calculator
Estimate prison sentences based on UK sentencing guidelines
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