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| Jason Durney |
A Liverpool man has been jailed for five years following a robbery at a shop in Bolton-le-Sands where customers and staff were threatened with a Stihl saw.
23-year-old Jason Durney, of Dagnall Road, Liverpool, was among a group of hooded men who targeted the Spar shop on Main Road, Bolton-le-Sands, on 21st February 2010.
As an attempt to cut open the store’s ATM machine with a Stihl saw was being made by two of the gang, a third member took cash from the till, stole cigarettes and scratch cards. A customer who entered the shop was then chased out into the street by one of the gang, who was brandishing the saw.
CCTV checks established that Durney had entered the store less than two hours before the attack, wearing the same clothes that he later wore during the raid. The getaway vehicle, which was found abandoned in Carnforth hours after the robbery, was traced to Forton services earlier in the day – where CCTV footage again captured Durney on camera.
Durney appeared at Preston Crown Court on Monday 13th February and pleaded guilty to robbery. Appearing again today he was sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Paul Donnelly, Lancaster CID, said: “This robbery was a terrifying experience for the member of staff who was directly confronted by the gang and for those who were in the shop at the time, especially as a Stihl saw was used. Staff acted very bravely protecting an elderly member of the public and I commend all members of staff in the way they reacted to this frightening incident that evening.
“Durney initially came up with a flimsy excuse as to why the CCTV images showed him both at the store and at the service station, but eventually admitted his guilt on the first day of the trial.
“The robbery was carried out by offenders coming into Lancashire intent on committing crime,” he added. “Durney’s sentence shows that we are determined to catch such criminals; they will be put before the courts and will pay the penalty for their violent and intimidating behaviour.”