Bungling chicken robber gets jailed after fowl play in Rowley Regis (From Halesowen News)

Bungling chicken robber gets jailed after fowl play in Rowley Regis

10:16am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in Local

A BUNGLING Rowley Regis robber has been jailed for four and a half years after threatening to stab staff whilst stealing chicken at a store he had already been barred from.

Drug addict Andrew Rose turned back to crime just three days after he was given a community order for raiding a house in Olive Lane, Halesowen.

The 25-year-old warned workers at the Co-op store in Halesowen Road, Blackheath, "If any of you come near me I will stab you" as he got away with £36 worth of chicken breasts, said Mr Patrick Darby prosecuting.

Then five days later Rose stole more meat from the same shop in a carbon copy theft but it was snatched back by a staff member who gave chase.

But the man feared Rose was armed and he threw the meat to the ground for him to pick up and flee from the scene, added Mr Darby.

He told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Rose was also spotted acting suspiciously or stealing from three other shops - a branch of Sainsbury's, Boots and Lloyds chemists in the Blackheath area.

Mr Darby stressed no weapon was actually produced by Rose during his ten day crime spree in November and December last year in which he got away with around £300 worth of property.

Rose of Derby Street, Rowley Regis admitted three thefts, a robbery and four breaches of his Anti-Social Behaviour Order and he was told by Recorder Peter Ievins it was clear he had put people in fear of their safety.

"You pay absolutely no attention whatsoever to court orders and you committed these offences after being given a community order while others were committed while you were on bail," said Mr Ievins.

Sally Cairns defending Rose who has 36 previous convictions involving theft from shops said it was unsophisticated offending carried out in shops where he was well known to members of staff.