Worthing shop robbery: Dale Searle and Danny Cobbold jailed

Dale Searle and Danny Cobbold targeted Worthing News in Rowlands Road in the town.

They pretended to be ordinary customers before demanding cash from two men working there.

When the shop workers refused, Cobbold kicked down the door leading to the till and pulled out a silver cigarette lighter shaped like a revolver.

He held the fake gun to the head of one of the terrified shop workers.

Searle and Cobbold, both aged 32, wanted money from the safe which could not be opened. Cobbold snatched £500 from the till and Searle vaulted the counter and took vodka during the robbery.

The gun robbery happened at Worthing News in Rowlands Road

But thanks to a swift police inquiry and an appeal in The Argus, both men were found and arrested.

At Lewes Crown Court Searle was jailed for five years, while Cobbold was jailed for five years and four months.

Tim Forster, prosecuting, said the robbery unfolded on December 3 last year.

The two men were seen on CCTV in Worthing town centre before trying to disguise themselves with hats and face masks at the convenience store.

Danny Cobbold and Dale Searle have been jailed for robbery in Worthing

Mr Forster said one man in the shop, a disabled Iraqi national, was terrified as the fake gun was put to his head.

He said: “The man was left scared and shaken, he believed he was going to be shot.”

Andrew Turton, defending , said Searle, formerly of Lancing, has grown up with a drug addicted mother and has himself used drugs since the age of 12.

Danny Cobbold and Dale Searle have been jailed for robbery in Worthing

He said Searle has a “substantial drugs debt” which has been “enforced with violence”.

Searle has been attacked with a machete to the face that left him in hospital, and dealers have threatened to burn his mother’s house down, Mr Turton said.

Mr Turton said both men now realise the “stupidity” of their actions.

Her Honour Judge Janet Waddicor spoke about the men being in debt to dealers. She said: “So what? If you take drugs, mixed with drug dealers, you are going to get into debt. That goes with the territory.

“That does not mean that members of the public and shop assistants should suffer at your hands.

Dale Searle

“You made them fear for their lives. The shop assistants were shaken and frightened. This must be a nightmare for every person working in a small shop.”

Danny Cobbold

Searle and Cobbold, both of no fixed address, are now behind bars.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Ricks said: "Searle and Cobbold caused significant distress to their victims in this appalling crime and we will absolutely not tolerate this kind of violence and intimidation.

"This investigation moved at a fast pace and we are pleased the defendants have now been brought to justice.

"Our priority is keeping local communities safe and every day we work tirelessly to prevent and disrupt crime."