A 29-|YEAR-old man has been jailed after carrying out an armed robbery at a convenience store.

Jamie Goffett, of Galemeade, Liverpool, threatened staff with an axe before stealing a quantity of cash from The Co-operative Food store at The Ridgeway in Murdishaw, Runcorn, at around 9.15pm on Thursday, January 24.

He pleaded guilty to the robbery and a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Goffett also admitted shoplifting from the Marks and Spencer store on Leicester Street in Northwich on three occasions, between Monday, November 5, and Friday, December 14.

He was sentenced for all of the offences at Chester Crown Court today (Friday, April 26).

Goffett was jailed for five years and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.

In a police interview, Goffett claimed that he committed the armed robbery whilst under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

Upon entering the Co-op for the second time that night – he had been served by staff just hours earlier – he ordered employees to open the till.

Goffett then pulled a small axe from his pocket, threatened staff, smashed the weapon against a till and a till counter and demanded that money be placed in an empty bag.

At that point a store worker opened a till, put a quantity of cash into the bag and handed it to Goffett, who then fled the scene on foot with the stolen money.

The 29-year-old was identified as being the offender by local officers and the axe and bag he used were discovered by police at an address in Bournemouth Close, Runcorn, within hours of the robbery taking place.

Goffett himself was then located and arrested at an address in Woodridge, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, on Friday, February 22.

By entering Cheshire to commit the robbery Goffett breached a bail condition that had been imposed on him by the courts in relation to the three shoplifting offences in Northwich.

He stole a quantity of gloves from M&S on Monday 5 November and a quantity of scarves from the store on Friday 7 December.

When Goffett returned to the store on Friday, December 14, he was recognised and followed outside by security staff.

When he realised that he was being followed Goffett discarded a bag of stolen clothing from M&S and ran off towards Chester Way, where he was arrested by officers soon after.

Evidence of Goffett’s shoplifting was captured via the store’s CCTV cameras.

Following today’s sentencing, Detective Constable Phil Brown, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit (LPU), said: “Liverpool man Jamie Goffett was banned from entering Cheshire after he was charged with stealing more than £4,500 worth of clothing items from an M&S store in Northwich.

“Yet just over a month after being caught for the three shoplifting offences Goffett returned to Cheshire to commit an armed robbery in Runcorn.

“He subjected staff to a terrifying ordeal, threatening them with an axe, which he smashed against a till and a till counter.

“Goffett ended up stealing just over £100 from the store. For that offence alone he was handed a prison sentence of four years and four months.

“We take all reports of robbery extremely seriously at Cheshire Constabulary and officers are committed to doing all they can to ensure that those responsible are traced and brought to justice.

“Goffett was located at an address in Runcorn after his failed attempts to elude police and I am delighted that he is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.

“I hope that the custodial sentence handed down by Chester Crown Court brings some closure to Goffett’s victims and provides reassurance to the local community that offences such as these will not be tolerated.”

Chief Inspector Sarah Heath, of Runcorn LPU, said: “I would like to thank the officers who have been involved in this case for all their hard work in securing this conviction.

“Hopefully the sentence Goffett has been handed will serve as a deterrent to other people and stop them from committing similar crimes.”