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A 33-year-old man from Tuffley was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday July 23.) He was given a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. Robert Kirkland from Bourton Road appeared before the court after being charged by police with robbery following an incident at the Co-op store in Seventh Avenue, Tuffley, on Friday June 27. Kirkland walked into the store at about 9.15pm brandishing a samurai sword and demanded cash from members of staff. He left the store with a quantity of cash and a bottle of cider and made off on a bicycle. A member of the public witnessed Kirkland entering a house in Bourton Road and directed officers to him. DC Jon Youdan from Gloucester CID who led the investigation said: "I would like to thank all of the witnesses who came forward for their assistance in this case which has resulted in this sentence being handed down from the court. "The use of the weapon during this offence was very frightening for the victims working at the store, the co-op store has been very cooperative throughout the investigation and have helped the police in every way they could. "This result sends out a clear message that Gloucestershire Police will not tolerate knives on our streets or the threat of violence." http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ |
