Violent raiders jailed

Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 02 December 2009

A PAIR of armed robbers who targeted a quiet Saddleworth shop have been jailed.

Stephen Bower (24), of Hanover Street, Stalybridge, admitted armed robbery when he appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court and was jailed for four years and eight months.

Matthew Record (24), of no fixed address, was jailed for 32 months after admitting the same offence.

Four men, one armed with a knife and another an axe, burst into the Co-Operative Store on Chew Valley Road, Greenfield, at 8pm on Tuesday, July 7.

All four became aggressive to staff and customers with one customer rugby tackled to the ground while another was pushed over.

Two of the offenders went behind the counter and emptied thousands of pounds of cigarettes into a bed sheet. A customer’s wallet and some cash from the till were also stolen.

During the robbery, a woman went to the shop and was grabbed by one of the gang standing guard. He then forced her inside before throwing her to the floor and threatening her at knifepoint. The raiders fled in a stolen Volkswagen Golf.

Det-Insp Mark Wareing, of Ashton CID, said: “Both men were part of a group who subjected completely innocent members of staff and customers to a very frightening ordeal for a bit of cash and some cigarettes.

“Bower in particular has a string of previous convictions and I am delighted they are now both behind bars where they cannot continue with their criminality.

“Their arrests followed a proactive operation by my officers, with support from Operation Storm and other officers working across Greater Manchester.

“This result proves we will work collectively and tirelessly to hunt and bring to justice those who think it acceptable to commit this type of offence.”