Man who terrified staff at two city centre stores with threats that he had a gun has been jailed

Still from the CCTV of the robbery

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A man who terrified staff at two city centre stores with threats that he had a gun has been jailed.

Abdul Mohammed (10/04/1981), of Wray Place, Rochdale, was sentenced to four years in prison at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square on Friday (17 February).

He admitted robbery and attempted robbery at an earlier hearing.

At around 5.45pm on Friday 23 September 2016, Mohammed went into Wesley Barrell home furniture shop on Deansgate and blocked a female member of staff behind the sales counter.

He demanded cash and made threats to shoot or stab her, before leaving empty handed.

At around 6.30pm the same day, Mohammed was in the Ted Baker shop on New Cathedral Street when he grabbed a female member of staff from behind while she was at the sales desk.

He ordered her to open the till, telling her: “This is a robbery, I’ve got a gun. Don’t inform your security.”

He held an umbrella against the woman’s ribs, prompting her to think it was a gun and open the till.

Mohammed grabbed a quantity of cash before he fled the store and pushed another member of staff into a clothes rail as she attempted to stop him. He also threw the umbrella, which struck her on the head.

He ran in the direction of the Harvey Nichols store but was caught by a Ted Baker staff member who detained him with help from Harvey Nichols’ security and members of the public.

Mohammed was found in possession of a wallet and a quantity of cash.

Detective Constable Paul Roberts, of GMP’s Manchester City Centre Team, said: “Mohammed committed his crimes under the pretence he was carrying a gun which was a tactic that understandably terrified staff and left them shaken.

“In the circumstances, prodding a woman in the back with an umbrella was realistic enough to convince her she was facing a real firearm and left her utterly traumatised.

“I would like to commend the staff for their bravery; in particular the man from Ted Baker who chased after Mohammed and ensured he was detained and brought to justice swiftly.”