Knife-wielding man jailed for attempted robbery

Chad Rowe was jailed for three-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing

A knife-wielding man who attempted to rob a shop in Guernsey has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Chad Rowe, 40, entered Candie Cache Stores, in St Peter Port, with the knife in his back pocket at about 22:30 GMT on 7 March, the Royal Court heard.

He pulled out the knife and demanded cash he put into a bag he was carrying, before fleeing when a member of the public who entered the store pretended to call the police, the court heard.

Rowe had pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at a hearing on 29 May and was sentenced on Friday.

Speaking after the hearing, a Bailiwick Law Enforcement spokesperson said: "This kind of offence is rare in Guernsey, but is entirely unacceptable and will always be rigorously investigated by officers to ensure offenders are brought before the courts."

They said in Cambridge Park officers found a head cover made of blue/grey material that matched the one that was worn by the suspect on CCTV.

Rowe brandished a knife and demanded money during the incident at a shop in St Peter Port

Rowe was found at an associate's address and arrested at about 03:20 on 8 March, they said.

During a search there, similar clothing and his phone were found, with a message on the mobile sent by Rowe after the attempted robbery that said "I done something so bad tonight", the force added.

The defendant was forensically linked to the seized head cover and to a cigarette from the pavement outside the store which was seized following a review of CCTV footage.