Leeds masked robbery gang terrified shop staff in 'professional' raids

Daniel Goodyear, Ashley Metcalfe and Mark Peat were locked up for a total of 21 years after a court heard victims were left deeply traumatised after being threatened with weapons.

The three men travelled from their homes in Leeds to target One Stop premises in Wakefield and Castleford.

Leeds Crown Court heard one victim has had to quit her job as she was too terrified to return to work.

Metcalfe and Peat burst into premises on Church Road, Altofts, at 11pm on December 16 last year.

Metcalfe threatened a woman with a golf club and ordered her to open a safe in the staff area.

She was unable to open it as her colleague had the keys.

Peat jumped over the counter and stole over £1,000 worth of postage stamps from the till.

All three men were involved in a robbery at the store on Willow Bridge Lane, Castleford, on December 19.

Metcalfe was armed with an iron bar and ordered a manager and a worker into a staff area.

A third member of staff was already in there counting up the day's taking.

Metcalfe managed to take £6,000 in cash while Goodyear and Peat took £6,000 worth of cigarettes, alcohol and stamps.

The gang left in a stolen Ford Fiesta.

Goodyear carried out a robbery on his own on June 5 this year at a BP garage on Pontefract Lane, Stourton, Leeds.

Goodyear stole his mother's friend's car in order to carry out the robbery at 4.30am.

A member of staff initially thought it was joke when Goodyear walked onto the forecourt wearing a balaclava.

The victim fought with Goodyear when he tried to enter store.

Goodyear punched him several times to the face before going into the premises and taking £450 from the till.

The victim continued to fight back and used a broom to smash the widows of the getaway car.

A lorry driver tried to block his escape but Goodyear managed to drive off.

Describing the robberies, Louise Pryke, prosecuting, said: "There is a degree of planning here which may suggest that these offences fall into the professionally planned category."

Miss Pryke said victims had suffered sleepless nights and needed counselling.

One woman had only just returned to work from sick leave after being a victim of a robbery at a different store.

She has now resigned after being a victim for the second time.

Goodyear, 27, of Aberfield Gardens, Belle Isle; Peat, 30, of Jarvis Walk, Robin Hood, and Metcalfe, 30, of no fixed address, each pleaded guilty to two offences of robbery.

They each received seven year jail sentences.

After the case, Sergeant Steve Sayles of Wakefield District CID, said: "While no-one was hurt in these incidents, they would have been very scary and deeply upsetting experiences for the victims and we are pleased Metcalfe, Peat and Goodyear have been sentenced today.

"I hope these sentences will act as a reminder that those who think it is acceptable to commit such offences that they will face time behind bars."