Robber launched hammer attack in village store

Damian Mould has been jailed after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery and one of burglary

A robber has been jailed after a hammer attack on a man in a village store.

The victim, in his 60s, spent two weeks in hospital after he was robbed in Oakthorpe, Leicestershire, on 13 January.

Damian Mould, 38, of no fixed address, left him with "significant" injuries, police said, then stole cash and alcohol.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Leicester Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of burglary. His licence, on release, was extended by three years.

Police said Mould was on bail at the time for an earlier robbery at a garage in Nottingham Road, Ashby, on 1 November 2023.

This involved a staff member working the night shift when she saw a man – later identified as Mould - behind the till taking cigarettes from the cabinet.

The force said she confronted him and reported he had made a threat that he had a gun, ordering her to open the till.

The victim was unable to open the till and Mould left, with no injuries reported.

He was arrested inside a business when police were called to a report of an intruder alarm going off in Lower Church Street, Ashby.

After he was sentenced on 31 October, PC Amy Aplin said: "Mould had no regard for his victims while carrying out these crimes purely for his own gain.

"Thanks to the support and co-operation of the victims, along with dedicated inquiries being carried out by response officers and the investigation team, Mould was left with no choice but to admit his crimes leading to this sentence."