Robber with axe gets jail warning

An armed robber who struck at a Wolverhampton grocery store with an imitation gun and an axe was today warned he faced a long jail sentence after admitting the raid.

Wayne Rowley, aged 21, and another man stormed into New Road Express on the Birmingham New Road in Parkfields.

Rowley had an axe or machete with him and tussled with a shop worker during the robbery. He eventually handed himself in to police. The second man is believed to have fired the gas-powered weapon during the raid, which happened on October 15 last year.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court today, Rowley, of Whitgreave Avenue, Low Hill, admitted robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and possession of the bladed weapon.

Mr Jas Mann, defending, said Rowley had only been caught because he walked into a police station to confess.

Judge John Warner said Rowley could expect a "custodial sentence of some length".