Botched raider ‘only joking’

A THUG who bungled an armed raid on a newsagents tried to pretend the whole thing had been a joke, a court was told.

Balaclava-clad Joshua White (20) burst into EMC Newsagents in Yorkshire Street, Oldham on April 8, grabbing Adil Hussain around the neck and holding the blade of a pair of scissors to Mr Hussain’s throat.

Jennifer Birch, prosecuting, told Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court Mr Hussain bravely managed to force his attacker outside and was then able to grab his head.

At this point, White, of no fixed address, laughed and told his victim: “I was only joking. I just wanted to see your reaction.”

A local taxi driver who had seen part of the scuffle gave chase, but was unable to catch the 20-year old.

The court was told that burly White gave himself up at Oldham police station.

Sentencing him to three years and four months at a young offenders’ institution, judge Stephen Lowcock told him: “It must have been a terrifying experience and immediate custody is inevitable.”

John Wishart, defending, said: “This incident could well have been a cry for help.”