A ROBBER who raided a convenience store armed with a knife has been jailed.

Aaron Law stormed into the McColls on Admirals Road in Birchwood and held the blade to the shopkeeper’s neck as he demanded money.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 27-year-old and an unidentified accomplice entered the shop shortly after 7.15pm on October 8 last year with their faces covered and with the hoods of their jackets up.

Warrington Guardian:

The worker was then ‘frogmarched’ to the till, with the defendant holding him by scruff of the neck while holding the knife to the back of his neck.

He was ordered to empty the till and handed over a total of £578.90 after the pair ordered him to ‘do as you’re told or else’.

Law and the other robber fled the scene, but the former was caught out after leaving his DNA on the victim’s jacket and admitted his involvement under interview with police.

Defence barrister Jonathan Rogers told the court that his client, who has three previous convictions for possession of a bladed article in a public place, had been living in a rented property after serving five years in a young offenders’ institute.

But after the landlord died, he had nowhere to stay.

And the person Law then moved in with ‘came up with the idea’ for the robbery.

Mr Rogers said: "He understands it was wrong, he knows he is going to prison.

"He wants to knuckle down and obtain qualifications."

Law, of Partridge Close in Birchwood, admitted robbery and was locked up for 40 months on Tuesday, September 14.

Warrington Guardian:

Judge David Aubrey said that the employee would have been left ‘petrified’ by the incident.

Sentencing, he added: "It is quite clear this robbery was not committed on the spur of the moment – it was pre-planned and premeditated.

"Undoubtedly, you were a willing joint participant in this robbery and so it was you sought to ensure your face was covered and you were in possession of a knife."