Teenager who committed knife-point aggravated burglary at Crawley convenience store jailed

A teenager who committed a knife-point aggravated burglary at a convenience store in Crawley has been jailed for five years, Sussex Police has reported.
By Matt Pole
Published 24th Jun 2022, 10:51 BST
Updated 24th Jun 2022, 12:53 BST
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Police were called to the incident at Casbah in Horsham Road about 11.25pm on December 16.

Sussex Police said a member of staff was preparing to close for the evening when two masked men – both armed with knives – entered the shop and immediately walked behind the counter.

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They started taking bottles of alcohol from the shelf and cash from the till, and the worker sustained a small cut to the head as he attempted to intervene, police added.

Eighteen-year-old Thomas Penny, of Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey, who committed a knife-point aggravated burglary at a convenience store in Crawley, has been jailed for five years. Picture courtesy of Sussex PoliceEighteen-year-old Thomas Penny, of Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey, who committed a knife-point aggravated burglary at a convenience store in Crawley, has been jailed for five years. Picture courtesy of Sussex Police
Eighteen-year-old Thomas Penny, of Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey, who committed a knife-point aggravated burglary at a convenience store in Crawley, has been jailed for five years. Picture courtesy of Sussex Police

A few days later, 18-year-old Thomas Penny, of Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey, was arrested for an unrelated matter in Dorking, Surrey.

Following investigation into this matter, police were able to link him to the aggravated burglary in Crawley; further examination also revealed he had carried out an internet search with the words ‘Crawley knife point robbery’.

He was subsequently charged with aggravated burglary. He pleaded guilty to the offence, and at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, June 10, he was sentenced to five years in a young offender institution.

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The second suspect was not traced and remains outstanding, Sussex Police added.

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