Meat cleaver wielding robber made off with cash in audacious Black Country shop raid

Liam Cook, of Brierley Hill,  was part of a gang of three who threatened to cut staff with blades during a raid at Tesco Express in Hagley Road, Halesowen on May 9 last year.

On Thursday Mr Adam Western, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court, how Cook and two others were captured on closed circuit security cameras approaching the premises shortly after closing time.

"Their faces were covered. Each were armed. One of them had a knife, one a crowbar and the third had a meat cleaver. The store closed at 10pm and the offenders arrived in a silver BMW while two staff members were stock taking.

"The offenders forced open the front doors to get in and pushed the staff into the office a the back while demanding that they open the safe. One of them was armed with a kitchen knife with a seven-inch blade and he threatened to cut the staff with it.

"They tried to smash open the safe and also demanded that they open a vault at which point the staff told them they were unable to open it. The offenders then started to bang it in a bid to get the two male staff to open it fast.

"One of the offenders grabbed a quantity of cigarettes," Mr Western told the court.

Cook, who was film wearing a green glove, was also seen searching the drawers in the office. All three were dressed in dark-coloured clothing. 

Mr Western said the subsequent investigation into the Tesco raid and following a robbery at a Spar shop detectives were able to use the film footage to identify Cook due to his height.

"There was a tracker in with some of the cash which was traced to the Brierley Hill area. When the police found it in a money bag meant for £20 notes, it was smashed into six pieces. The defendant gave himself up," he added. 

The court also head that the same gang were responsible for both robberies and that a police investigation to identify the other two men was continuing.

In his victim impact statement real aloud in the court, the shop manager described how his colleague was left badly affected by the incident. "I am annoyed at the audacity of the offenders in smashing up the store," he added.

At a previous hearing Cook, formerly of Coppice Walk, Brierley Hill, pleaded guilty to two offences of robbery and two offences of possession of an offensive weapon on the basis that was the person armed with the meat cleaver and wearing the green glove. 

In a separate matter, he also pleaded guilty to five offences relating to sexual assault and recording images under clothing without consent and an offence of inciting a girl under 15 to engage in sexual activity. 

Mr  Des Jenson, defending, said Cook had no been any trouble before now.

"A litany of offences have brought him to court today. Something clearly has gone awry," Jenson added. 

Judge Jonathan Gosling, was due to sentence Cook, but adjourned the case until January 14 for further inquiries. Cook was remanded in custody.