Three jailed for armed robberies

THREE men who carried out a string of robberies and burglaries, including several in the Warrington area, have been jailed at Liverpool Crown Court.
The offences they admitted included an armed robbery at the Co-operative store Culcheth and a burglary and theft of a car from a house in Culcheth.
Other offences were committed in Lowton, Newton-le-Willows and in the Wigan and Leigh areas.
Christopher Molyneux, 27, of no fixed address was jailed for nine years,
Stephen Grimshaw, 30, of Leigh, was jailed for eight years and Mark Wohler, 28, also of Leigh, was jailed for eight years, four months.
They had all pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
The court was told that between January 21 and April 12 last year, the three men committed dozens of armed robberies and burglaries across Wigan, Leigh and into Cheshire.
During the armed robberies two or three masked men would raid the businesses, brandishing weapons including machetes, knives and hammers.
They would threaten staff members, who, in fear for their lives, would hand over money and cigarettes to the offenders.
They also terrorised members of the community who were in fear of becoming victims of burglary. They stole cars and motorbikes worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, which they used to commit the armed robberies.
Detective Constable Alison Wallwork said: “These three men have been sentenced for their involvement in a series of robberies and burglaries and for anyone who was been subjected to this sort of violent and terrifying robbery, they will understand why it is so important men like this are locked up where they can cause no more harm.
“Today’s result sends out a clear message that this type of crime will not be tolerated.
“The streets are certainly a lot safer now these three criminals are behind bars.
“We are committed to safeguarding people from violent, career criminals who do not hesitate to use violence to achieve their aims.”
The raid on the Co-op store at Culcheth was at 9.10pm on February 18 last year. A large quantity of cash and cigarettes were stolen.
In the early hours of February 23 last year, a burglary was committed at an address on Brookfield Road, Culcheth. A gold Renault Megane was stolen.
The following day there was an armed robbery at the Co-op Store, Church Lane, Lowton when a large quantity of cash and cigarettes were stolen.