Man jailed after firing shots during armed robbery

Ten years in prison...Kevin Merrick.

A man has been jailed after he fired a gun and stole cash from a Co-op store.

Kevin Merrick, 30, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to six offences, including robbery and possession of a firearm.

He was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison at Bolton Crown Court today (Tuesday 30 June).

On Saturday 7 February, Merrick went into the Co-operative shop on Albert Royds Street just before 7.30am. He wanted to buy a bottle of vodka and argued with the staff until eventually they sold him a bottle.

Around 10.20am the same day, Merrick went back into the shop wearing a balaclava and armed with a double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun.

He pointed the gun at the woman behind the counter and shouted at her to open the till.

He then fired the shotgun into the cigarette kiosk, narrowly missing the woman's head.

She tried to run off but Merrick continued to demand money. Another member of staff went over and managed to open the till and handed Merrick around £100 in cash.

As he walked towards the sliding doors to leave, the door began to close, so he fired the shotgun again, leaving a large hole in the door.

Inquiries by officers led them to another address on Albert Royds Street. The house was searched and a sawn-off shotgun was found in three pieces in a wardrobe and a number of cartridges were found in another room.

During further searches a bag containing ammunition and a second shotgun, with an attached silencer were found.

Detective Constable Steve Greenhalgh of Rochdale CID said: "Merrick left the staff in fear of their lives - one shot he fired narrowly missed one woman.

"He is a dangerous individual who on this occasion behaved in a reckless and stupid way, which could have resulted in someone's death."