An armed robber who helped raid shops with a hammer, a dumbbell and threatened staff with a champagne bottle has been jailed for four years.
Brendon Gray, aged 29, (pictured) was one of two men who looted Premier Stores, in Old Stratford, on Christmas Eve, and then Cottage Stores, in Potterspury, on New Year’s Eve, last year.
In the first raid, Gray carried out the armed robbery with Kevin Scarlet, who grabbed a champagne bottle and threatened a member of staff before throwing the bottle at the owner.
Gray, who had a hammer, then threatened the worker, who had been cashing up, before taking £2,700 in cash.
The pair then threatened staff with a dumbbell in the second armed robbery, just seven days later on December 31, 2012, in Potterspury, when they stole £2,000 in cash and cigarettes worth up to £400.
Northampton Crown Court heard Scarlet has since died, while being held on remand at HMP Woodhill, in Milton Keynes. Court staff were handed an interim death certificate during the hearing.
Sentencing Gray, who is from Bletchley, in Milton Keynes, Judge Michael Fowler said: “I am sure you know that there is no way I can complete a course of action that would result in you leaving the front of that dock rather going down stairs.”
He said shop workers “know they are vulnerable and they fear the day someone like you and Mr Scarlet come through the doors”.
The judge added: “In both occasions weapons were used and on one occasion injuries was caused, albeit limited, but some physical contact was made.
“These offences are rendered even more serious by the value of property stolen.
“You say you were under pressure from Mr Scarlet to commit these offences. I give you the benefit of the doubt that that might be the case and pressure from him might have been difficult to resist.
“But you are 29 years old, you are not just an adult, you are a grown adult.”
Gray was jailed for four years on each count, to be served concurrently.