Robbers fell out over haul

Two bungling robbers, who raided a Clevedon corner shop then fell out over the loot, have been jailed for a total of five years. Benji Jeffrey and Matthew Davidge forced staff at a One Stop convenience store in the town to empty the till before fleeing with cash and bottles of whisky. However Jeffrey, aged 26, of Herbert Road, Clevedon, tried to take Davidge's share of the money. The pair went to a friend's flat in Station Road where they fought and Davidge, aged 30, of Deer Mead, Clevedon, suffered a puncture wound to his chest and a laceration to his left cheek from broken glass. Jeffrey admitted one charge of robbery and one charge of causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for three years. Davidge admitted one charge of robbery and was jailed for two years. John Penny, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, told how the robbers had raided the One Stop shop on the evening of January 3 this year. He said shop staff Susan Hoddinott and Naomi Wilkinson were behind the counter when Jeffrey joined them and ordered them to open the till while Davidge kept watch at the door. "Jeffrey said 'open the till now' and became aggressive. When Ms Hoddinott said no he said it again. "Both staff members were extremely frightened and the till was opened. Ms Hoddinott was told to put the notes into a bag the man had with him. "The man at the door was shouting 'come on, come on'," said Mr Penny. He said Miss Wilkinson remembered a knife being mentioned when Jeffrey then ordered a second till to be opened, however the machine was empty. The robbers then fled with £149 and £30 worth of whisky and fell out as they made their way to Station Road when Jeffrey struck Davidge over the head with a whisky bottle. "When they got to the flat a fight took place," said Mr Penny. The pair were only charged with the robbery when Davidge was quizzed by police about the violence and he told them there had been an argument over £50 Jeffrey had given him from the shop. Adam Vaitilingam, defending Jeffrey, said the robbers had spent the day drinking and taking drugs then fell out over the proceeds from the store.He said his client had written letters to the two ladies which were moving and showed remorse. David Chidgey, defending Davidge, said his client had also expressed remorse and said the defendant had played a lesser role as lookout. Jailing the pair, Recorder Mr John Trevaskis said: "Robbery, particularly robbery of a small corner shop involving the intimidation of young shop staff and female shop staff, is always regarded as a serious offence. This court can and will only deal with offences of this nature by way of custodial sentences.