Chocolate bar thief jailed over robbery spree

Zach Porter threatened a wine shop worker with a screwdriver

A man who stole chocolate bars from a convenience store before smashing a bottle of wine over a shop worker's head has been jailed for more than 15 years.

Zach Porter, 30, attacked the staff member at the Derby Street store in Atherton, Wigan on 4 January 2024 after trying to force them to open the till.

The same day, he entered a wine shop and held a screwdriver to the ribs of a member of staff, demanding they hand over cash.

Porter, who is from Atherton, was found guilty at Bolton Crown Court of robbery, theft, possession of a knife and threatening with a weapon and jailed for 15 years and three months.

The court heard he was challenged at the first shop after stashing a number of chocolate bars in his pockets.

He denied he had anything, then picked up the bottle of wine before walking towards the security door by the counter.

'Traumatic'

Porter then tried to force entry, demanding the staff member open the till before striking them with the bottle to stop the panic alarm being pressed, the court heard.

He then fled the scene, grabbing some cigarettes as he ran off.

Later, Porter burst into a wine shop brandishing what was described in court as flat-head screwdriver, before holding it against a shop worker's ribs, demanding they open the till.

He made off with more cigarettes and more than £200 in cash, before he was arrested by police on the same day.

Detective Sergeant Nigel Rigby of Greater Manchester Police said he hoped the sentence sent a warning to those who try to "frighten and intimidate members of the public and take from local businesses".

"Robbery can be a traumatic experience for victims, and no one should have to feel threatened in their place of work," he said.