Lancashire trio jailed for £10k village shop raid

Three men have been jailed over a shocking £10,000 armed robbery on a village shop and post office.

James Patrick Doherty, 34, of Witton Parade, Blackburn, Hugh McGeough, 36, of Springfield Road, Leyland, and Andrew Jeal, 32, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, were convicted of robbing shop owner David Brown of £5,689 cash, 3,875 Euros and $792.

Doherty was also convicted of having an axe and crowbar during the incident at Cottam Stores on Hoyles Lane, Cottam, Preston, in the early hours of October 14 last year.

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Preston Crown Court heard the shop owner David Brown had opened the door of the store at around 5.25am ready for a newspaper delivery.

James Patrick Doherty, 34, of Witton Parade, Blackburn, has been jailed for a £10,000 robbery at Cottams StoresJames Patrick Doherty, 34, of Witton Parade, Blackburn, has been jailed for a £10,000 robbery at Cottams Stores
James Patrick Doherty, 34, of Witton Parade, Blackburn, has been jailed for a £10,000 robbery at Cottams Stores

A few minutes later he heard the shop door bell ring and saw two men enter the store wearing balaclavas.

The first was armed with a knife and crow bar, and the other had an axe.

They demanded the keys to the shop but the victim was able to edge backwards into the kitchen and run through the back door.

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The two raiders then left the store clutching various items.

Andrew Jeal, 32, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, has been jailed voer a £10,000 robbery at Cottams StoresAndrew Jeal, 32, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, has been jailed voer a £10,000 robbery at Cottams Stores
Andrew Jeal, 32, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, has been jailed voer a £10,000 robbery at Cottams Stores

They fled the scene in a Volkswagen Meriva driven by Jeal.

Police saw the car on the A59 heading towards Blackburn 15 minutes later and deployed a stinger to bring them to a swift halt.

They found a black plastic tray containing the currency.

Recorder Christopher Kennedy QC jailed Doherty for seven years and four months, and Jeal for four years.

Hugh McGeough, 36, of Springfield Road, Leyland, has been jailed over a £10,000 robbery at Cottams StoresHugh McGeough, 36, of Springfield Road, Leyland, has been jailed over a £10,000 robbery at Cottams Stores
Hugh McGeough, 36, of Springfield Road, Leyland, has been jailed over a £10,000 robbery at Cottams Stores
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McGeough was also sentenced for burgling the premises of contractor firm North Star on Eden Street, Leyland, between September 18 and 24, 2016, and Casetronix in Leyland on September 2 and stealing a car.

He was jailed for a total of nine years and seven months.