Teenagers locked up for '˜wicked' knife-point robbery on Hartlepool store

The youths, all aged 17, who cannot be identified, made off with over £1,000 from the till and booze in the raid on the Premier Store in Cornwall Street.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that two female members of staff were working in the store when the robbers entered at about 9.40pm on April 2.

Two of the teenagers who threatened the women with knives before stealing cash from the till were locked up for 18 months each.

The third who stood by the door and stole bottles of alcohol was freed and made the subject of a 12 month youth rehabilitation order with a four-month tagged curfew.

All of the youths had their hoods up and pulled tight to hide their faces and one appeared to be wearing an animal print fur hat.

Miss Masters said: “[The first youth] pulled a knife from the sleeve of his right arm and pointed it at one of the women and shouted ‘open the till or I will slash you’.

“He jabbed he knife towards her chest area continuing to say ‘open the till’.”

One of the other youths also pulled a small vegetable knife out and pointed it at the other member of staff.

Miss Masters added: “In total it is estimated the defendants got away with over £1,000.”

Police quickly traced them and all three pleaded guilty to robbery.

Barristers for them said they had shown genuine remorse.

Jonathan Walker said for of his client: “He has done all he can since this ill-conceived moment of stupidity.”

Recorder William Lowe QC described the crime as “wicked” and “terrifying” for the staff who were threatened.