Armed robbers jailed for nine years each after threatening cashier during terrifying raid

An armed robber who searched the internet to find out the jail sentence for armed robbery the day after he targeted a Fleet shop has found out the answer today.

Robert Sifile, 22, of no fixed address and his partner in crime Thomas Jackson, 21, of Chaundlers Croft, Farnham, were sentenced to nine years each in prison for the terrifying attack.

The pair pleaded guilty to carrying out the armed robbery at the Nisa Local store, in Linkway, Church Crookham on November 28.

Today, they were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court.

The court heard that the two men went into the shop at 5.10pm, walked straight up to the till with their hoods up and threatened the cashier.

Sifile takes out the handgun from his pocket and holds it to the victim’s head, while Jackson uses the distinctive curved bladed machete to hit him on the back several times.

While doing this they threaten the cashier, demanding he opens the till.

As a result of this frightening attack, the victim suffered a cut to the top of his head.

The prosecution told the court that Jackson managed to reach into the till and steal more than £560 in cash before running out when they failed to get the second till open.

Officers deployed to the scene immediately

As investigations continued into the incident the pair were quickly identified and were arrested on November 30.

The court was told how the knife and the gun were found in the car that there were stopped in.

The court also heard that officers made some interesting discoveries on Sifile’s mobile phone.

Examination of his phone showed that he searched “sentencing for armed robbery” the day after the Nisa Local raid and that he also made a video of himself holding the gun, wearing the same clothes he wore during the incident, just six hours before.

At an earlier hearing Sifile pleaded guilty to attempted GBH, robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and possession of an offensive weapon.

Jackson pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of an imitation firearm, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Today they were both jailed for a total of nine years each.

DC Matt Dennis said: “This was a fast-paced investigation into what was a frightening ordeal for the cashier.

“As you can see from the footage, the cashier was confronted with a terrifying sight as these two stormed towards him, both armed with weapons that could have caused potentially fatal injuries.

“Fortunately these dangerous men and their weapons are off our streets and they no longer need to carry out an internet search to find out how long you get in jail for an armed robbery.

“We hope our swift action on this case reassures those living and working in the area that we will take action against those who threaten our communities.”