The chilling moment an 'off his face' machete raider wielded blade as he targeted two Sunderland shops in an hour during first week of lockdown

Keaton Cooper, who was wearing a hood and a scarf to cover his face, waved a machete at terrified staff while trying to rob a post office and a convenience store, which were a mile apart, in the early morning of March 30.

The 21-year-old, who was "off his face" on drugs, left both raids empty handed and his image was circulated in the press and social media during a police investigation into the offences.

As a result of the campaign, Cooper was identified as the culprit by his own family, who had seen the appeal and contacted the police.

Cooper, who has a previous conviction for armed robbery as a juvenile, then handed himself in and pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted robbery, one of having an offensive weapon and possession of a small amount of cannabis found on him after his arrest.

At Newcastle Crown Court today Judge Christopher Prince said the offences were "serious and frightening" and jailed Cooper, of Trevarren Drive, Sunderland, for five years.

The judge told him: "The complainants are both going to be lastingly apprehensive as they go about their every day work, serving members of the public.

"It is a difficult enough time for private shop owners and it was a particularly difficult time for shop owners on March 30

"They kept shops available for essentials for people and you took advantage of them."

Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court Cooper first targeted the Grangetown Post Office in Stockton Terrace, Sunderland, where he went to the counter and asked for £350.

Mr Pallister said: "The witness told him to place his card in the reader.

"The defendant then began fumbling in the pockets of his trousers for several seconds before producing what the victim describes as a sword.

"The victim feared he was going to be stabbed. He managed to retreat to a place of safety, to an area of the shop with a glass screen.

"The defendant attempted to push the weapon through the gap between the screen and the counter.

"The victim activated an audible alarm and the defendant walked out."

In a victim statement, the worker said : "I feared for my safety, I believed I was going to be stabbed. Once I've had time to think about the incident I feel like I've had a lucky escape. I don't come to work and expect to be threatened."The victim added in a second, more recent statement that he feels wary of strangers when he has to serve them and is apprehensive when he sees people with hoods.

The court heard the second shop Cooper targeted was Premier Stores on Vilette Road, Hendon, where a lone woman was working.

Cooper, who was "mumbling", "waved the machete towards her" while she shouted for him to get out.

He left the shop when a delivery driver approached.

In a victim statement, the woman said: "Even though he didn't say anything threatening, that I could make out, he was holding a big machete towards me. It worried me."

After being recognised by his family in the media campaign and handing himself into the police, Cooper was asked if he was responsible for the raids.

He told officers: "If I am I can't remember, I was off my face on drugs."

Adam Birkby, defending, said Cooper had written a letter of apology and handed in character references to the court.

Mr Birkby added: "He is extremely remorseful for what he did. He acknowledges the fear and distress his victims were caused. He is deeply ashamed of himself."

Mr Birkby said Cooper used illegal drugs to cope with family bereavement and the break down of a relationship.

He added: "The heart of his offending is drug misuse."

Detective Inspector Sean Mcguigan, of Northumbria Police, said after the hearing: “There is absolutely no place for this kind of behaviour in our community and Keaton Cooper should be ashamed by his actions.

“He showed a total disregard for the law and the welfare of others as he walked into two businesses armed with a machete and threatened staff for purely selfish gains.

“Thankfully, nobody was injured in either incident and Cooper left empty-handed, but his frightening behaviour could have caused long-term effects for his victims.

“It is particularly disappointing that, at a time when the majority of people across Northumbria are pulling together and showing the spirit that the North East is famed for, Cooper carried out these crimes and threatenedstaff members who are working hard to provide for our communities.

“I am pleased that the severity of his crimes have been reflected in this sentence and hope he uses this time behind bars to think carefully about the consequences of his actions.”

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