Sentenced for staging armed robbery at shop

A health food store worker and her co-defendant have been sentenced after staging an armed robbery in the shop.
Patricia Marlborough claimed to police that she had been robbed at knifepoint when working alone in the Congleton branch of Holland and Barrett on High Street.
She told officers that the offender had forced her to open the safe and then tied her hands with cable ties, before fleeing the store with almost £8,000 in cash.
Marlborough later submitted a claim for compensation to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
However, at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday the 28-year-old, of Hough Lane, Hyde, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal, committing a series of acts with to pervert the course of justice and fraud by false representation.
She was also ordered to complete 250 hours unpaid work and 25-day rehabilitation order.
Kristian Bramah, (29), of Plane Court, Churchill Way, Salford, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years after he admitted conspiracy to steal and possession of a knife in a public place.
The court heard that police officers were called to the health food store on Monday, 16th August 2021, following reports of a knife-point robbery.
Marlborough told them she had been working alone in the shop when an unknown man entered the store and threatened her with a knife.
She said that the offender had forced her to open the safe and then bound her hands with cable ties before fleeing the store with £7,879 in cash.
It was during the police investigation that Marlborough submitted a claim for compensation.
However, in July 2022 police received information that Bramah was responsible for the robbery and that he and Marlborough had been in a relationship at the time.
Following the reports, DNA analysis was undertaken on the cable ties and came back with a partial match for Bramah. ANPR and mobile phone analysis placed him in the area around the time of the incident.
Detectives also discovered that Marlborough and Bramah had been in contact with each other before and after the incident.
After recovering a catalogue of evidence, the pair were arrested.
During questioning they both denied that they had staged the incident. However, upon appearing in court they pleaded guilty to a number of offences.
After they were sentenced on Wednesday, Det Cons Sarah Sayer, of Macclesfield’s local policing unit, said: “Marlborough and Bramah carefully planned the robbery with the intent of making as much money as possible.
“Not only did they steal almost £8,000 from the store, but Marlborough had the audacity to claim compensation following the incident.
“Thankfully, we were able to uncover their web of lies before she was able to gain any further cash.
“However, their selfish actions resulted in the loss of a significant amount of valuable police time and resources, which could have been better spent looking after real victims.”
Bramah was also ordered to complete a 25-day rehabilitation order.
X2 three decks
Police hunt knifeman after armed robbery in town centre store
Back in 2021, we reported that a shop worker was “left shaken” after a “knifeman forced them to open a safe and then fled with the cash”.
Witnesses said he had a local accent, was around 5ft 10in tall and slim, in a black puffer coat, black trousers, black trainers and a dark grey balaclava.
Responded to what turned out to be fake robbery, Det Sgt Robert McCubbin, of Macclesfield’s local policing unit, said: “I would reassure residents that we are committed to doing all that we can to identify the person responsible.”
Holland and Barrett was asked for its reaction to the sentencing.