Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
This is the terrifying moment a pair of armed thieves burst into a Derbyshire newsagent and hold a gun to an elderly woman’s head as they force the shopkeeper to empty the till.
The shocking CCTV footage was taken in the first of three armed raids carried out by a trio of thugs in the midlands and all three have now been handed prison sentences.
In the video, Robert Childerley, 26, can be seen bursting into the Nisa Local Store in the village of Newton in Derbyshire and holding a gun to the head of an elderly female customer at 6am on 21st November 2019.
His accomplice Callum Raworth, 25, of High Hazels Drive, Huthwaite, then walks into the shop in a balaclava brandishing an axe.
Nottingham Crown Court heard the pair demanded the shopkeeper open the safe and in the clip Childerley can be seen holding a gun to the worker who opens a till and the thief then grabs the cash.
The pair did not manage to gain access to the safe in the Post Office area of the shop but left with 50 GBP in cash and a stash of cigarettes worth 1,755 GBP, which they took out in a shopping basket.
They are said to have left the scene and driven to Skegby Mini Market in Nottinghamshire in a stolen vehicle 20 minutes later, armed with a handgun and a sledgehammer.
They then demanded cash and cigarettes, but the shopkeeper pushed a panic button and told his wife to call the police.
The pair of thieves then left the shop empty-handed.
Childerley then robbed the Woodend Inn, in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, on 23rd November with Luke Walters, 30, with the pair threatening the cleaners with a gun at 6:30 am. The pair stole two bottles of alcohol and a charity box containing around 40 GBP.
The trio were arrested on 23rd and 24th November after some of the stolen items were traced back to their addresses.
Childerley, of no fixed address, was handed a 13-year sentence after pleading guilty to the three robberies, while Raworth was sentenced to six years and eight months.
Walters, of Cross Lane, Huthwaite, pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was given a sentence of four years and eight months.
Detective Sergeant Mark Shaw, of Nottinghamshire Police, who led the investigation, said: “We are very pleased with the result from court and to have three dangerous and prolific burglars locked up.
“It wasn’t an easy investigation but I’m happy all our work has paid off. I’d like to thank the officers and detectives who worked tirelessly on the case. They spent hours going through CCTV footage, talking to more than 20 witnesses and gathering forensics to track them down to arrest.
“We welcome this conviction and sentence which sends out a positive message that Nottinghamshire Police treats burglary and possession of firearms extremely seriously. More importantly, I’m also pleased for the victims who have been brilliant throughout and supported the police during a lengthy process.
“It must have been a terrifying experience for the victims to have had firearms pointed at their heads so we hope the lengthy sentences given give some comfort.”
