Dad who carried out ‘terrifying’ armed shop raids to buy Christmas gifts for daughter is jailed

John Greenhow had made promises to buy presents in the run up to the festive season last year and worked away from home doing construction so he could afford it.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard when he was informed his wages would not be paid before December 25, the 42-year-old, who has a criminal record which includes violence, hatched a "frightening" plot to get cash.

The court heard on December 13 Greenhow, who was masked and carrying a metal hammer, raided two convenience stores, both within walking distance of his home, and left the staff who were on duty so traumatised that they both quit their jobs.

Greenhow, of Sherburn Grove, Houghton, admitted two charges of robbery.

Judge Penny Moreland jailed him for six years and nine months for the "frightening and serious offending" and said he caused "serious psychologicalharm" to the shop workers he targeted.

Prosecutor Neil Jones told the court the first of the "terrifying" robberies was at a Go Local store at Hazel Terrrace in Houghton, where a lone female was behind the counter.

Mr Jones said: "The defendant entered and made straight towards her, shouting as he did so 'open the ****** till', several times.

"He was carrying what she said was a large metal hammer and she panicked, understandably, and was extremely frightened but didn't upon the till so thedefendant used the hammer to smash the till and monitor and smashed some display boxes."

The court heard the terrified worker eventually opened the till and Greenhow took around £200 in cash.

The victim said she was "very scared" during the raid and left unable to return to work.

She said in a statement: "I was having nightmares. Every time I closed my eyes I would see this male."

Just hours later, Greenhow and an accomplice went into the Premier store in nearby Philadephia, where a lone male worker was behind the counter andinitially thought he was being "pranked".

Mr Jones added: "His perspective rapidly changed when the defendant began shouting at him and raising the hammer, which was above his head.

"He thought he was going to hit him and raised his arms to protect himself."

The court heard the worker was punched and ordered to open the till before Greenhow grabbed the money from inside. The worker was left bruised with a black eye.

He said in a statement he moved away from the area after the robbery and was "incredibly shaken" by it.

He added: "I'm an outsider in this country. I have no family or friends to support me. Being the subject of this robbery left me so scared I had to move away to a different city."

Ellen Wright, defending, said Greenhow was drunk on vodka and what he did was "complete and utter madness."

Miss Wright said Greenhow had been working away in Essex and told the court: "He was informed he would not be paid for Christmas. This came as asignificant blow to Mr Greenhow, who had promised his daughter he was going to get her some Christmas presents.

"It sent him into complete panic. He had made promises to his daughter he was going to get her Christmas presents and now found himself in a position where he didn't have the means to do so.

"He was panicking, he was desperate, he turned to alcohol."

Miss Wright said while in custody on remand Greenhow has saved the life of another prisoner and added: "He is not someone who is dangerous."