TV star’s ‘dangerous’ husband behind bars

9:46am Friday 16th June 2006

The husband of an EastEnders actress has been given a life sentence for an armed robbery at a Surbiton off-licence.

Chessington resident Mark Foley, 46, was sent down for at least seven-and-a-half years after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to robbery and possessing a firearm.

Gerry Cowper, 47 who plays Rosie Miller, who is married to slob husband Keith in the hit BBC soap recently filed for divorce after eight years of marriage to Mr Foley.

He appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, June 9, for sentencing and was told he bore a significant risk of remaining dangerous to the public. His sentence was 15 years in total but he could be eligible for parole in half that time.

The court heard how he entered Unwins in Surbiton in April last year, wearing a black curly wig and demanded money from the cashier.

He held a gun to his head, threatened to kill him if he pushed the panic button and further threatened to "put one in your leg" when the cashier struggled to open the till.

Foley and an accomplice got away with £181 in cash and £1,000 worth of cigarettes and alcohol.

Foley, who has a string of previous convictions, including 14 years for armed robbery, was arrested when police saw him driving a stolen car.