July 27, 2020 5.25 pm This story is over 44 months old

Masked men jailed over armed village shop raid

They were owing money for drugs
Regan Carter and Daniel Fairbrother were each jailed for three years. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

Two masked men who carried out an armed hold-up at a village shop were jailed at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday.

Regan Carter and Daniel Fairbrother made off with £700 from the till and a stash of cigarettes after carrying out the attack on the store in High Street, South Witham.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, said that within moments of walking into the shop Fairbrother jumped over the counter and made for the till.

Miss Leonard said: “Fairbrother was dressed in black. His face was covered and he had his hood up. Carter’s face was also covered and he had his hood up.

“Fairbrother had a hammer and Carter a knife. Fairbrother put the hammer on the counter and ripped the money tray from the till.

“The shop owner saw what was going on and shouted at them. Carter then threatened him with a knife and kept him at bay.

“At this stage Fairbrother was still behind the counter and started taking cigarettes from the shelves. Carter came over and a bag he was carrying was used to put the cigarettes in.”

Miss Leonard said that the shop owner went towards the men but Carter picked up the hammer and threatened him.

Fairbrother then jumped back over the counter and punched the shop owner in the face as the man tried to intercept him.

The two robbers then made off discarding some of the clothing they were wearing nearby.

DNA evidence found on the clothing led police to arrest both Fairbrother and Carter.

Fairbrother, 21, of Oxford Street, Grantham, and Carter, 22, who was staying at a property in Commercial Road, Grantham at the time, each admitted a charge of robbery on November 4, 2019.

Fairbrother admitted possession of a hammer and Carter admitted possession of a knife on the same occasion. They were each jailed for three years.

Damian Sabino, for Fairbrother, said his client has learning difficulties and suffers from mental health problems.

He told the court that Fairbrother developed a drug addiction which was costing him £200 a week. Fairbrother, he said, became involved in the robbery after receiving threats from men who he owed money to.

Sunil Khanna, for Carter, said he had a very difficult upbringing and first used cannabis at the age of just nine. By the time he was 15 he was using Class A drugs and quickly became addicted.

“He wants to be a good person. He is ashamed of what he has done. He had lived in the village for a while in the past.”