Century old jewellery business closes

ONE of Warrington’s oldest businesses, A Baker & Sons Jewellers, has closed its doors for the last time due to a mixture of the recession and the jailing of its owner earlier this year.
The 104-year-old business based on Cairo Street, Warrington, closed for the final time yesterday, after staff who had battled to keep it open following the jailing of owner Laurence Levey (pictured) last September, conceded defeat as the business went into liquidation.
Other stores in Liverpool and Prescot have also closed.
One of the staff who attempted to keep the business going said: “It is very sad but the combination of the recession and the court case has been too much to overcome.
“Regular customers have just stopped coming and it has been impossible to keep the business open.
“It is a very sad day for a long established Warrington business.”
A Baker & Sons first opened its doors in Warrington in 1907 and for many years was run by local businessman Tony Baker, who is said to be “devasted” by the closure of his former family business.
Laurence Levey purchased the business about 10 years ago but was jailed for 10 years after being convicted of conspiring to rob an elderly couple at their North Wales home.
Levey, 57, was convicted by a jury at Mold Crown Court of conspiring to rob Peter and Jacqueline Davies, from Leeswood, Mold, while robber Gary Warner was convicted of robbery and jailed for 16 years.
The court heard the robbery in August last year involved weapons, the use of violence and threats to kill, when three masked men, dressed in black threatened to kill Mr Davies, left the couple tied up, before escaping with £100,000 in cash and jewellery – including a Rolex bought from Levey Pryor’s Jewellery store in Liverpool, said to be worth than £40,000.
The watch had been bought as a surprise present for Mrs Davies’ 65th birthday. Levey then allegedly identified Mr Davies to the robbers as a wealthy target.
Levey of Mossley Hill Drive, Liverpool and Warner, 45, of Boteler Court, Warrington, denied conspiring to rob Mr Davies, 64, and his wife Jacqueline, 65 but were convicted after trial by jury.
Levey is currently appealing against the length of his sentence.