Hooded man who burgled a bakery armed with a knife in Rochdale is jailed

4 images of Patrick Hood, images on the left show him conducting reconnaissance on the morning of the robbery. images of the right show how he changed his appearance to commit the offence

Following an investigation by officers from Rochdale CID, a man has been jailed for stealing cash from a bakery in Rochdale.

Patrick Hood, 37, from Rochdale appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (18 October 2023)  after pleading guilty to burglary and possession of an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.

Detective Constable Russell Clarke of GMP Rochdale CID said: "On 24 September 2020, Hood planned and executed this burglary on Manchester Road in Rochdale in broad daylight and with large numbers of people present on the street.

"He first conducted reconnaissance on the bakery to aid him in the offence and then went to an address where he changed his appearance and armed himself with a knife.

"He then returned to the bakery where he stole a quantity of cash and caused significant distress to the woman who was working there on her own.

"CCTV enquiries quickly led to the identification of Patrick Hood as a suspect although over the last three years of this investigation, Hood has not taken any responsibility for his actions and despite damming evidence, it was only on 18 October 2023 that he finally admitted he was the man responsible.

"His refusal to admit what he did up to this point has compounded the victims anguish and delayed her ability to move on.

“I hope it provides some comfort to the victim to know that Hood was the man responsible for this frightening ordeal and that he is now finally behind bars.

“There is no place for the carrying of knives in society under any circumstances and those in possession of knives - or use them to commit crimes - will be subject to a thorough investigation and ultimately prosecuted."