Two robbers have been jailed after one of their mothers reported them to police.
James Clewes (20/09/
1981), of
Bond Street,
Bury admitted robbery, possessing a bladed article and two counts of threatening a member of public with a bladed article.
Bernadette Chapman (12/05/
1986), also of Bond Street, admitted robbery and possessing a bladed article.
At
Bolton Crown Court today, Friday
27 September 2013, Clewes was sentenced to three years four months and Chapman to two years six months.
Shortly after 7.10am on Thursday 23 May 2013, the two, each armed with a knife, entered the
Best One shop on
Rochdale Road, Bury and demanded cash.
They made threats to staff, with Clewes threatening a cashier at knifepoint and demanding cash.
While the victim handed over cash, Chapman filled a bag with cash and cigarettes.
They tried to escape through the front door, but it was being held shut from outside by a member of the public.
After failing to get out through the back, they returned to the front and smashed a glass panel in the door before running off along
Albert Street.
Within a couple of hours Chapman had confessed what she had done to her mother, who in turn contacted police. The pair were arrested later that morning at a nearby pub.
Clothes that matched that worn by the offenders were recovered during a search of their house.
Detective Constable Mick Yates, said: "Clewes and Chapman armed themselves with knives and used the threat of violence to terrify staff at the shop. By their own admissions it was a desperate act.
"It seems the reality of what they had just done quickly dawned on them and Chapman in particular, was quick to confess.
"Faced with this revelation and an extremely difficult decision to make, credit must go to Bernadette Chapmans mother, who without hesitation called the police.
"I must also reserve special praise for the witness who saw this robbery in action and bravely did everything he could to stop them escaping from the shop.
"Between them they have shown that there are members of our community who will not sit by and watch something criminal happen and who will not sit back in the knowledge that someone is responsible for such offences and do nothing. They have proven that the police and the public can work together side by side to bring criminals to justice."
- published: 07 Oct 2013
- views: 5680