Man jailed for 'terrifying" robbery

A man who terrified two shop assistants in a raid on a Shropshire off-licence has been jailed for more than four years.

A judge at Shrewsbury Crown Court told Steven Baird, of Farm Close, Madeley, it was one of the worst incidents he had encountered involving staff working late at night.

The court heard how the 28-year-old went into the Victoria Wine shop in Madeley wearing a mask and brandishing a hammer.

He then produced a knife and ordered the women assistants to open the safe.

Drink and cocaine

When they said they were unable to do it, he snatched money from the till and a quantity of cigarettes, the court was told.

Police later arrested Baird at a block of flats and DNA tests on the mask linked him to the robbery.

Defence counsel Virginia Hayton said Baird had been drinking and had taken cocaine shortly before the robbery.

She added he was now ashamed of what he had done and wanted to apologise to the women.

Baird was jailed for four and a half years.