Armed robbers jailed after 'terrorising' Heath and Reach Co-op staff with batons and knives

Adam Pennington, 23, of Leighton Buzzard and Karl Partridge, 24, of Milton Keynes, were sentenced for robbery and weapons offences, after they pleaded guilty to robbing the shop.

Shortly before 7pm on Monday, September 23, 2019, Pennington and Partridge entered the Co-op store in Bird’s Hill, Heath and Reach, and threatened the staff with batons and knives.

They forced the employees to open the tills and grabbed trays full of banknotes, before making their escape in a grey Peugeot.

Thanks to eagle eyed witnesses, the getaway car was located by police around 40 minutes after the shop raid.

When Partridge and Pennington saw a police vehicle approaching, they attempted to speed off and ran through a red traffic light, but they crashed their car and were quickly arrested.

Adam Pennington pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and driving offences, and was sentenced to seven years and three months imprisonment.

Karl Partridge pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon, and was sentenced to three years and one-month imprisonment.

Investigation Officer Gillian Cook-Smith said: “Pennington and Partridge raided the shop and terrorised the unsuspecting staff members. They brandished their weapons menacing, hitting them on the counter and waving them towards the employees.

“When they were located by police officers, they attempted to drive off at speed, putting themselves, the officers and members of the public in danger as they crashed their car into a wall.

“This type of violent behaviour won’t be tolerated and we are satisfied that justice has been done. They will now spend a considerable time in jail paying for their actions that September evening.”