Armed robber wanated cash to pay for dog operation

He was jailed for four years.

Jonathon McEwan, of Mount Idol View, Sidley, and Anthony Cook, both 21, threatened a terrified shop assistant with a knife and a screwdriver during the hold-up in January this year.

Prosecutor Simon Wild said at Lewes Crown Court the pair had robbed 1,854 of stock from Whitefriars Stores in Whitefriars Road, in the West Hill area of Hastings, on January 31 at 9pm.

He said: "The shop assistant had started cashing up and closing the shop, Whilst doing that the door was closed and locked and the security shutters were pulled half down.

"He cashed up. He tied the bag up and put it under the counter.

"He had a last glance around the shop. He heard the outside shutter being pushed up. Someone was trying to come in.

"A male forced his way into the shop. We know that to be Anthony Cook. He was holding what looked like a very large masonry screwdriver.

"He saw a second man, he was holding a knife with a silver blade about three to four inches long. Cook pushed him into the counter and said, 'Where's the money?' McEwan said, 'It's under the counter' and Cook motioned to the sales assistant to get the bag."

Mr Wild said the sales assistant had then handed the bag over to Cook before the pair loaded a carrier bag with cigarettes from behind the counter.

The court heard the pair had then fled but were arrested four days later in Pevensey after officers recognised them from CCTV footage of the robbery.

McEwan had a previous conviction for burglary and Cook had previous convictions for a public order offence and driving whilst disqualified.

Defending McEwan, Tanya Robinson said that he had committed the robbery to help fund an 800 operation for a vet to remove a cyst from his pet dog.

She said: "It was lacking throughout in sophistication. There was no disguise by these two defendants. There was no attempt to interfere with the CCTV which led to them being identified."

Sentencing them both to four years for robbery, Judge Richard Hayward also jailed Cook, of Brooklands Close, Hastings, to a further year for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving with excess alcohol.

At the time of the robbery, Cook had been on bail for a dangerous driving offence last September, in which he vomitted when he was arrested following a high-speed chase with police near Fairlight Country Park.

He was arrested when the car collided with three parked vehicles after he lost control and was found to be over the legal drink/drive limit.

Defending Cook, Julian Dale said his girlfriend had recently given birth to their child and that he is planning to take up a painting and decorating course in prison.

The judge said: "This must have been a terrifying experience for the young member of staff you threatened.

"It's just the sort of violent crime the public are fed-up to the back teeth with."