Violent robber jailed

Date published: 16 March 2010

A violent robber who repeatedly punched a shopworker as she frantically tried to stop him has been jailed.

Ryan Paul Jones (born 18/12/1986) attacked the 55-year-old woman when she was working at the Bargain Booze on Monton Road, striking her in the head after stealing up to £11,000 in cash.

Jones, of Inghamwood Close, Higher Broughton, pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing and has today, 16 March 2010 been sentenced to five years at Bolton Crown Court.

At about 10.30am on 2 May 2009, the woman was opening the shop when she heard motorbike engines revving. She saw two motorbikes at the junction of Granville Street and Monton Road but did not think anything of it.

However, as she started opening the front door she was pushed violently in the back by Jones - who was wearing a motorcycle helmet - who grabbed her around the shoulders and forced her to open the door.

The victim was then forcibly dragged by her neck across the shop floor and downstairs into the cellar, falling down a few steps in the dark as she tried to protect her livelihood.

While demanding cash, Jones punched the victim numerous times in the head while she continued to try and fight him off. When Jones eventually managed to stuff the cash into a carrier bag, the victim made one last attempt to stop him by grabbing his leg, but he kicked her off, leaving her prostrate on the floor.

Jones then fled onto a waiting motorbike that was outside the shop and sped off.

Extremely traumatised and upset, the victim got back to her feet and called police. She was treated in hospital for cuts and bruises to her face and jaw, scratches to her back, hands and shoulders and shock.

CCTV of the incident was seized and the offender was identified as Jones.

Detective Constable Simon Jones said: "The victim was subjected to a horrific ordeal at the hands of Jones - I'm sure everyone reading this will be rightly appalled at the level of violence he stooped to.

"She was extremely brave in trying to stand up to Jones and should be commended for that - sadly Jones was unrelentingly vicious in his pursuit of money.

"But thanks to some excellent work by our officers, we identified Jones and locked him away which is a fantastic result both for Greater Manchester Police, but more important the community.

"Criminals like Jones have no place in our society, and anyone who has been a victim of burglary or robbery will how much distress these people can cause.

"Stopping these criminals in their tracks and putting them where they belong - in prison - is an absolute priority for us because we know these are the sorts of people decent, law-abiding members of our communities want taken off the streets.

"We use a variety of techniques to pursue men like Jones and I hope it sends out a very powerful messages to other criminals that there is no place to hide and you will be made to pay.

"Greater Manchester Police set up Operation Uganda to target violent criminals in the Salford and Bury areas, and today's conviction shows how determined we are to take thugs like Jones off the streets where they can cause no more misery."

From October to December 2009, there has been a 20.5% drop in robberies, meaning 383 fewer victims, compared to the same three months in 2008.

In a statement, the victim said: "I was terrified. I was hit in the face and head on several occasions. I've never been hit before. It really hurt. I was by this time extremely frightened this was a violent man who thought nothing about hitting me even while I was on the floor.
"I was traumatised with fear as to what this man would do next. You read about shopkeepers being attacked and even shot or stabbed. I did not know what to do next.

"The period of time after the robbery was very stressful, not knowing if my husband and I would still have a business or a home. Sleepless nights and stress was not what I wanted.

"My husband and I have worked extremely hard to make this business a success and in one moment of violence and greed it was all nearly taken from us.

"I see and read about these incidents every day - law-abiding hardworking people being mugged or robbed by these low-life criminals. It is about time decent hardworking people are given the rightful protection they so crave from the justice system.

"They don't care about their actions and the repercussions these actions have on decent people who have worked and strived to make a business successful and they must be made to pay for their actions."