JAIL FOR ARMED RAIDERS

Jonathon McEwan and Anthony Cook, both 21, threatened a terrified shop assistant with a knife and a screwdriver during the hold-up in January.

Cook was also jailed for a further year for dangerous driving and drink driving after police spotted him behind the wheel of his Ford Orion while he was banned.

Prosecutor Simon Wild told Lewes Crown Court that Cook, of Brookland Close, Hastings, and McEwan, of Mount Idol View, Bexhill, had robbed Whitefriars Stores in Whitefriars Road on January 31 at 9pm.

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

"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.

"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 to Cook before the pair loaded a carrier bag with cigarettes.

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

Mr Wild said at the time of the robbery, Cook had been on bail for the dangerous driving offence.

This happened in September when a police officer was called to Fairlight Country Park where other officers had seen Cook, who was banned from driving, behind the wheel of his Ford Orion.

He said: "Travelling east along a road near Ore village he saw the Orion in Martineau Lane.

The Orion was travelling around 50-55mph and turned into Fairlight Road.

"There is a series of bends to the left and right with several blind bends and has a 60mph limit.

"At the junction with Mill Lane a 30mph limit comes into force, the road narrows from two lanes to one with warning signs.

"The Orion by that stage had picked up speed to 60mph and began to drive erratically."

Mr Wild said during the course of the chase Cook was seen to ignore a give way sign, overtake on bends and pedestrian crossings and drove at speed over traffic calming bumps.

He was eventually arrested after the car collided with three parked vehicles,

The court heard he was later tested for alcohol and was found to have 85mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - with 80 being the legal limit.

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

Mr Wild said that the total value of cash and cigarettes stolen in the robbery was 1,854.

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

He said: "It may well be that fatherhood with its responsibilities will bring a change in attitude to Tony Cook."

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

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

He also banned Cook from driving for five years.