Victim of bungling Sunderland machete raider recalls 'lucky escape'

Machete raider Keaton Cooper, 21, is awaiting sentence after he admitted committing two attempted robberies within half-an-hour of each other in Sunderland last month.

Wearing a scarf over his face, Cooper left staff terrified on March 30 as he tried first to steal £350 from Grangetown Post Office at around 7.30am before making off empty-handed.

Then, just before 8am, Cooper entered the Premier shop, in nearby Villette Road, Hendon, and approached the counter before leaving after he was confronted by a shop worker.

Cooper, of Trevarren Drive, Ryhope, Sunderland, was arrested in Ryhope Road after ringing police to confess and has now pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery, possessing an offensive weapon and possessing a quantity of cannabis on March 30.

In a statement provided to police, a man who was working in the post office when Cooper threatened him said: “When I saw the weapon I feared for my safety and believed I was going to be stabbed,” he said.

“Since I have had time to think about this incident, I feel like I have had a lucky escape. I don’t come to work and expect to be threatened.”

Cooper was remanded in custody and will return to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence on Thursday, June 18.

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

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

“Thankfully, nobody was injured in either incident and Cooper left empty-handed, but his erratic and frightening behaviour on that morning could easily cause long-term psychological 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 threatened staff members who are working hard to provide for our communities.”

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