Sunderland shop robber who struck twice just three days apart is caged

Darren Jones and his accomplice, who was armed with a knife, stormed into the Spar shop at North Hylton Road, Sunderland on March 21, started banging on the counter and making demands.

Jones, who has 86 offences on his record and was out on licence from a ten year jail sentence for aggravated burglary, helped himself to two bottles of gin before they made off.

Three days later, on March 24 the 51-year-old went alone into the nearby Bargain Booze shop, told the worker to "open the till and give me the ****** money" then made off with £450 in cash and five bottles of gin, worth over £80.

At Newcastle Crown Court Jones, of Thompson Road, Sunderland, admitted two charges of robbery and has been jailed for six years.

Judge Stephen Earl said the workers were "obviously frightened for their own safety" during the raids.

The court heard the Spar store was staffed by two women workers when the raiders burst in.

One of the workers said: "I feel shocked this happened to me at my place of work. I don't come to my work to be threatened.

Her colleague said: "I didn't want to go back to work but I made myself go back because it was making things worse thinking about it and I managed to pluck up the courage.

"When working in the shop I am really nervous and worried, looking at everyone that comes in. It makes it harder now we have screens up and with what's going on with Covid and people wearing scarves to cover faces, it puts me on edge even more."

The lone worker who had been on duty at Bargain Booze said he feels "very nervous and very wary" and "constantly on edge".

Glen Gatland, defending, said Jones had been doing well after his release from prison but then went on a "heroin binge" after the death of a close relative.

Mr Gatland said Jones had been unaware that his accomplice had a knife until it was produced during the Spar raid, which had been the other man's idea.

The court heard Jones is a trusted mentor behind bars and has stepped in to help prison staff during two violent incidents.