A robber who was armed with a crowbar when a gang raided a Black Country supermarket, taking more than £7,000 of cash and cigarettes, was today behind bars.

Father-of-two Richard Howell, aged 35, of Carder Crescent, Bilston, Wolverhampton, and four other masked men stormed into the Co-operative store in Overfield Road on Dudley’s Russells Hall estate. He pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to a total of 52 months in prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Persistent thief Howell used the weapon to smash two CCTV cameras while his accomplices smashed open the till and cigarette display with claw hammers, the court was told. He is the only gang member to have been caught.

Judge Michael Dudley told him: “You have a bad record. This offence is a considerable escalation of seriousness from the others.”

Miss Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, said the five men were all wearing hoods or balaclavas when they entered the shop.

Two members of staff were in the shop at the time. One of them tried to escape through a back door but was followed by Howell, who was still carrying the crowbar.

He ordered her and two other women, who had been working in the back office, to get on the ground. When he returned to the shop, they pressed a panic button.

The gang made off in a stolen Renault Megane. They led police on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 70mph in 30mph zones, before they crashed. Howell was caught soon afterwards.

Miss Jones said Howell has numerous previous convictions including burglary.

Defending, Mr Stephen Cadwaladr said:”This is his first offence that involves the use or threat of violence.”

By Charlotte Cross