Knifepoint robber caught after officer recognises his shoes

A knife-wielding robber who was caught by police after an officer recognised his shoes from CCTV footage has been jailed.

Matthew Howe entered the BP garage in Barnard Castle shortly before midnight on Monday, March 30 where he threatened the assistant with a knife and demanded money.

Fearing they were going to be stabbed, the terrified assistant opened the till drawer and Howe helped himself to £270 and two bags of tobacco.

He returned to the store a second time at around 9.25pm on Friday, April 3 where he again threatened an assistant with a knife, demanding they open the till.

When they refused, the 30-year-old held the knife towards the assistant’s ribcage and ordered him to open the till before stealing around £100.

Howe was arrested on April 5 after a police officer, who had seen CCTV footage of him from the robbery, spotted him in Barnard Castle wearing the same trainers.

He was brought into custody and officers searched his home, where items from the robbery were found.

Howe, of Cockfield, was charged with two counts of robbery, which he admitted.

He appeared at Durham Crown Court last Thursday (May 28) where he was jailed for three years and four months.

Temporary Detective Constable David Armstrong, from South Durham CID, said: “These were terrifying incidents for the shop assistants, who were simply at work doing their job when they were targeted by Howe.

“No-one should face violence or threats of violence while at work, so I am pleased Howe is now facing a jail term for his despicable actions.”