JAILED: Armed raider terrified workers and beat up drug user for £195

Armed robber Stephen Lewis struck at a Black Country shop before launching a terrifying attack at a Wolverhampton crack house, a judge heard.

The 35-year-old walked into Priory Wines in Priory Road, Dudley with the hood of his anorak tightly wrapped around his face, withdrew a firearm and ordered the female member of staff behind the counter: 'Open the till,' Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The frightened woman bolted into a back office and shut the secure door leaving him alone in the store – the firearm was never found but is assumed to have been an imitation.

Lewis knew where the 'money drop' was at the shop and tried unsuccessfully to kick it open before failing to get money from the till, explained Mr Edward Soulsby, prosecuting.

The robber fled taking a couple of cartons of cigarettes and two bottles of liquor – with a total value of around £60 – from the display shelves on November 10 last year, the court was told.

A second woman who was behind the secure door in the back office before being joined by her colleague had a panic attack when the alarm button to police failed to operate during the robbery, said Mr Soulsby. The other woman later told police she had been so frightened she felt physically sick.

Lewis was wanted for questioning in connection with the robbery when spotted by officers driving along Evans Street, Whitmore Reans nine days afterwards but quickly escaped after a short chase by speeding down the wrong side of the road to overtake a line of traffic waiting at a red traffic light.

A month later he went unarmed to a crack house in Chester Street, Whitmore Reans with an accomplice – who has not been identified – and robbed a man taking drugs there.

The victim had his wallet stolen after a beating and was then punched and kicked until he revealed his pin number to Lewis who clean out the man's account by withdrawing £135, continued Mr Soulsby. The culprit was identified from CCTV from the bank.

He was arrested when police swooped on his address in Armstead Road, Pendeford where they found him hiding under a pile of bedding after his partner, 27-year-old Anne Hubbard had insisted he was not at home. The firearm was never found and therefore the court had to assume it had been a fake.

A probation report on the defendant concluded that he represented a high risk of harm to the public. He was addicted to both drink and drugs, said Mr Anthony Bell, defending.

Lewis, who had a string of previous convictions, admitted two charges of robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and dangerous driving.

Hubbard, also from Armstead Road pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and was given a 12-month community order.