Thomas Rosser jailed for terror raid on shop

A knifeman subjected staff and customers to a terrifying ordeal as he tried to rob a convenience store in Rochdale, Manchester Crown Court has heard.

Thomas Rosser (19) burst into the shop then lashed out at an assistant behind the counter as he demanded money.

CCTV footage showed an elderly customer fleeing in panic as the shopkeeper tried to fend off the attacker with a stool.

Rosser, who was sentenced to four years detention, was told by the judge, Mr Recorder Driver QC: “You did not merely possess a knife. There is clear film evidence that it was a large knife, you lunged out missing a man’s face by inches. The elderly lady appears to be absolutely terrified by what you did, and staff had to grapple you to the ground. You put all of them through a horrendous ordeal.”

After being arrested, Rosser told police he had been a drug user who owed money to dealers. He had been told to rob the Premier store, in Oldham Road, Rochdale, on 14 March 2014.

He claimed two men threatened him over his debt, gave him the knife and told to rob the store to pay what he owed.

Rosser, who pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of diamorphine, discovered at his home the previous November, had been bailed after being interviewed about the drug offence, then went on to commit the far more serious charge.

Mr Recorder Driver sentenced Rosser to a further 12 months detention for the drugs offence, but this will be served alongside the robbery sentence.