Attacker's punishment 'scandalous'
A PETROL station manager who was threatened with a sword during an armed raid has branded the sentence given to his attacker as scandalous.
Liam Keane, a debt-ridden drug addict, threatened Zubaire Mohmed with a Samurai sword after he refused to hand over cash during the raid at the Shell garage in Bradford Road, Brighouse, on May 4.
Keane, 19, of no fixed abode, has been sent to a young offenders' institution for four years for the raid and for another at the One Stop Shop in Granny Hall Lane, Brighouse.
Keane carried out the attacks on the same day in a bid to get enough money to pay off a debt to his cannabis supplier, Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday.
Mr Mohmed said he thought Keane should have got longer. "At the end of the day his sword was so close to me he was touching my stomach and chest, he looked as though he wasn't afraid of using it and I believe he would have done
"I think he is a disgrace. He should have been out looking for a job. Why waste his life?"
The attack left Mr Mohmed shaken and he believes Keane should have been locked up for life. "Next time he could attack an old man and they might not be that lucky," he said.
A judge heard how Mr Mohmed refused to co-operate, Keane produced the sword from a holster and said: "I'm not f****** joking. Open the till. I'll do you."
Mr Mohmed insisted that no money would be handed over even when Keane made threats to slash him and eventually he fled the premises empty-handed after being told the panic alarm had been activated. He got into the kiosk through an insecure door at 3.30pm.
Keane's friend Scott Brady, 18, also of no fixed abode, did not take part in the garage raid, but six hours later they went into the One Stop Shop convenience store.
Both teenagers had their faces covered and were armed with a sword and carving knife.
Keane confronted duty manager Laura Lewis and told her he wanted cash and cigarettes.
Bradford Crown Court heard from prosecutor Giles Bridge that Liam Keane started counting down from ten as the duty manager and her male colleague emptied their tills.
It was estimated that the pair made off with between 350 and 500 in cash together with cigarettes worth between 80 and 104.
Afterwards Keane returned the sword to a cabinet in the house where the two teenagers were lodging at the time.
The stolen money was used to pay off Keane's drug debt and the duo then smoked more cannabis until 1am.
Keane admitted attempted robbery, robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.
Brady, who pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an offensive weapon, was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institution.
Barrister Paul Fleming, for father-of-one Keane, said he had gone off the rails following the breakdown of a relationship.
He accepted the incidents were very intimidating and frightening, but he pointed out that there was no physical contact with any of the members of staff involved.
Lawyer Richard Brown, for Brady, said he was physically sick after carrying out the robbery at the shop and he was going to pay a heavy price for his "misguided loyalty" to his friend.
Judge Benson pointed out that Keane's failure to get any money during the first offence had not deterred him from carrying out the later robbery.
"People who arm themselves and go and commit robberies in vulnerable locations with their faces covered must expect as you realise an immediate sentence of custody of some length," he told the two teenagers.
"The distress and fear caused by this sort of activity and the difficulty that is poses to those running helpful small businesses is incalculable."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
