Northern Ireland

Would-be robbers fled as newsagent (78) produced hatchet from behind counter

Three men have each been jailed for 27 months for the attempted robbery of a newsagent's in Belfast city centre 
Three men have each been jailed for 27 months for the attempted robbery of a newsagent's in Belfast city centre  Three men have each been jailed for 27 months for the attempted robbery of a newsagent's in Belfast city centre 

THREE men who attempted to rob a city centre newsagent's fled when the 78-year-old shopkeeper produced a hatchet from behind the counter, a court has heard.

Glen King, Stephen James Allison and Kevin Gallagher were each jailed for 27 months on Tuesday after admitting targeting the shop on Belfast's Dublin Road.

Judge Geoffrey Miller said: "Clearly this must have been a frightening and traumatic experience for the shopkeeper, who acted with considerable bravery. He was, understandably, left very shaken."

King (26), from Lavinia Square in Belfast, Allison (29) from Adelaide Avenue in Whitehead and Gallagher (29), from Herbert Avenue in Larne, were all staying at the Morning Star hostel at the time.

Belfast Crown Court heard that they were seen on CCTV walking to the shop at the junction of Bruce Street at around 11.30am on November 3 2015 and peering into the window, before loitering at a nearby electric box.

A postman who was inside raised suspicions to the proprietor and moments later King, Allison and Gallagher entered.

While King approached the counter armed with a long object which the shopkeeper thought was a knife, the other two "effectively stood guard" at the door.

A prosecution lawyer said when King told the shopkeeper "Hold up time", the pensioner "deliberately and slowly" walked towards the till before producing a hatchet.

At this point, the would-be robbers fled.

The court heard Allison has 66 previous convictions, while Gallagher and King both have 14.

After hearing that all three men were substance abusers, Judge Miller said: "Addiction to non-prescriptive drugs cannot provide an excuse for what was done that morning."

He recommended that they attend an alcohol and drugs counselling programme during the 27 months they will spend on supervised licence after their release.