Blade thug jailed for garage robbery bid
A KNIFE-WIELDING thug has been jailed for four years after an attempted robbery at a garage in the town.
Anthony Wain, 49, of Halton Lodge Avenue, Runcorn, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court on Friday to one count of attempted robbery and the possession of a bladed article in a public place.
A Cheshire police spokesman said Wain entered the BP garage, on Thomas Jones Way, Runcorn, at about 8am on Tuesday, April 17.
He jammed the door with a plastic container to stop the doors being locked and then tried to force open the till with a 12-inch kitchen knife before he was disturbed by a member of staff.
He then pointed the knife at the member of staff and demanded that the till was opened.
The staff member refused and Wain fled.
He was later caught by officers as he had ● left DNA evidence at the scene.
Detective Constable Phil Brown said: “Wain had clearly planned what he was going to do by jamming the doors to stop them being locked.
“His plan was scuppered when the member of staff working at the garage refused to open the till.
“He fled the scene empty handed hoping he wouldn’t be caught but thanks to the hard work of our forensic team he was identified, arrested and later charged with the offence.
“No one deserves to be threatened with a knife when they are at work.”
He added: “Wain is now serving a sentence behind bars and paying the price for his actions that day.”