Newton Heath: Pair Jailed For Knifepoint Robbery

9 April 2013, 15:44 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Two men who held up a Newton Heath shop at knifepoint have been jailed.

Shane Doyle, 32, and Francis Hobin, 37, targeted an off-licence last September.

Hobin went in went into the shop to buy milk and sugar, before his accomplice burst in with a large kitchen knife.

After a scuffle Doyle left with the shop till in his arms - it was later found smashed up a few streets away with his fingerprints on it.

Throughout the robbery Hobin had remained in the shop and left his personal details with staff as a witness before leaving.

Both men pleaded guilty to robbery. Doyle was jailed for six years, Hobin for three and a half.

Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw said:

"This was a calculated robbery against the owners of this shop, who were subjected to a violent attack at the hands of Doyle, just so he could get his hands on cash from the till to buy drugs.

"Doyle conspired with his accomplice, Hobin, whose job it was to go into the shop posing as a normal customer to get staff to open the till.

"Hobin pretended he was an innocent bystander and even stayed behind after the robbery in a false gesture of support to the victims, when he left his details as a witness.

"However, police recognised Doyle from the CCTV and were quickly able to establish that the pair were living together, where they were subsequently arrested.

"Doyle and Hobin have today been sentenced for their actions and I hope that the victims involved in this traumatic incident can take some solace in seeing these men put behind bars."