MACHETE RAIDER GETS FIVE YEARS
Bungling burglar jailed after targeting two shops in an hour in first week of lockdown
An armed raider who targeted two shops within an hour during the first week of lockdown has been jailed for five years.
Keaton Cooper, who was wearing a hood and a scarf to coverhisface,wavedamachete at terrified staff while trying to rob a post office and a convenience store, which were a mile apart, in the early morning of March 30.
The 21-year-old, who was "off his face" on drugs, left both raidsemptyhandedandhisimage was circulated in the press and social media.
As a result of the campaign, Cooper was identified by his own family, who had seen the appeal and contacted the police.
Cooper, who has a previous conviction for armed robbery as a juvenile, then handed himselfinandpleadedguiltyto two charges of attempted robbery, one of having an offensive weapon and possession of a small amount of cannabis found on him after his arrest.
At Newcastle Crown Court today Judge Christopher Prince said the offences were "serious and frightening" and jailed Cooper, of Trevarren Drive, Sunderland, for five years. Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court Cooper first targeted the Grangetown Post Office in Stockton Terrace, Sunderland, where he went to thecounterandaskedfor£350.
Mr Pallister said: "The defendant began fumbling in the pockets of his trousers before producing what the victim describes as a sword. The victim managed to retreat to a place of safety, to an area of the shop with a glass screen.
"The defendant attempted topushtheweaponthroughthe gapbetweenthescreenandthe counter. The victim activated an audible alarm and the defendant walked out."
Thecourtheardthesecond shop Cooper targeted was Premier Stores on Vilette Road, Hendon, where a lone woman was working.
Cooper, who was "mumbling", "waved the machete towards her" while she shouted for him to get out.
He left the shop when a delivery driver approached.In a victim statement, the woman said: "Even though he didn't say anything threatening, that I could make out, he was holding a big machete towards me. It worried me."
After being recognised by his family in the media campaign and handing himself into the police, Cooper was asked if he was responsible for the raids.
He told officers: "If I am I can't remember, I was off my face on drugs."