Boy, 14, jailed after armed robbery at Co-op on Orford Lane

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, left a shop assistant 'terrified' after raiding the Co-op on Orford Lane last month.

On Wednesday, August 1, he was handed a year in a young offenders' institute.

Warrington Youth Court heard that the teenager, from Padgate, entered the store shortly after 10pm on Monday, July 1, with an unknown accomplice.

Described in court as a 'prolific offender', the teenager was armed with a kitchen knife and a claw hammer and had his hood up.

The pair took around £100 in cash from the till, with the 14-year-old later arrested in the town centre after being picked up on CCTV wearing distinctive clothing.

An 18-year-old male was also arrested in connection with the incident, but was later released under investigation.

A statement from a sales assistant who was working in the Co-op at the time of the incident was read out in court.

The statement said: "Since the robbery took place I have felt very scared - I couldn't sleep at all that night.

"It was the most terrifying experience of my life.

"I don't think I'll ever feel safe again and I'm not sure whether I'll be able to return to work."

Earlier on the same day of the offence, the defendant had been handed a six-month conditional discharge at Staffordshire Youth Court for threatening behaviour.

He had also been referred to the youth offender panel by Warrington Youth Court in May for two counts of theft - after he had stolen aftershave from Debenhams and a 10-pack of lager from the One Stop on Cinnamon Lane - criminal damage for destroying the wing mirrors of a police car, threatening behaviour against a female officer and obstructing her in the execution of her duty.

The teenager admitted robbery, two counts of possession of an offensive weapon, breaching a conditional discharge and committing a further offence during a referral period.

Magistrates also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife and hammer.