Jail term for armed robber who left Darlington C-store staff traumatised

A drugged-up robber, who held a petrified shop worker at knifepoint for cash and left her traumatised, has been jailed for three years and four months.

According to local reports, accused Jack Criddle stormed into a McColls convenience store in Darlington, Teesside on October 27 in the morning hours and pointed a large kitchen knife at the shop worker, saying "I just want notes".

The victim broke down on numerous occasions when being interviewed by police and feared she would never be able to work in the North Road shop in Darlington again, the court heard.

The woman was reportedly so panicked at first she struggled to open the till. She was then able to take out around £70 to £80 and place it on the counter.

Criddle took the money and made off with the woman calling police and clicking the panic button. The 20-year-old accused was wearing a mask and his hood up during the robbery. He was later recognised as a regular customer and turned himself into police.

Criddle, of Warkworth Way, Darlington, was described in the court as someone with complex thinking issues, low maturity, mental health problems and misused drugs and alcohol.

The court heard how Criddle was intoxicated at the time of the robbery and was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine and had "little memory" of the incident. riddle was jailed for three years and four months.