A knife-wielding robber who terrorised three supermarket staff has been branded a ‘dangerous offender’ and given an extended jail sentence.

Daniel Devlin, 28, entered the Co-op store on Union Road with his hood up and a scarf covering his face shouting ‘get the **** behind the counter’.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Devlin demanded staff members Tyrian Sarrionandia and Liam Hannon open the till.

Devlin, formerly of Oswaldtwistle, ‘thrust’ a plastic bag on Mr Hannon and shouted ‘open the ******* till, I’ve got a knife, I’ll stab you’.

He then told staff to open another till however they were unable to and he fled the store with £120.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said the incident happened at around 7.30pm on October 11 last year and Miss Sarrionandia recognised him from a previous shoplifting incident on September 27 where he stole a crate of cider.

Ms Kehoe told the court: “She watched the CCTV back from the incident and was able to identify him as a local who attended the Co-Op on a regular basis.”

Devlin, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and possessing a bladed article.

The court heard how Devlin has 29 convictions for 44 previous offences including three violent incidents since 2012 involving knives and a meat cleaver.

Miss Kehoe said: “He clearly is somebody who has a propensity to take knives or weapons out and use them in the context is criminal offending which has to be concerning.”

When arrested by police, Devlin denied the robbery claiming he couldn’t as he ‘had a broken arm’.

Judge Beverley Lunt said Devlin said there had been a ‘severe escalation in violent crime and crimes involving weapons’ committed and classed him as a ‘dangerous offender’.

She ordered him to serve an extended jail sentence of five years and four months with an extended three years licence period.

Classifying Devlin as a dangerous offender, mean the court could go beyond its usual sentencing guidelines. He will only be released from prison following approval by the parole board.

Lauren Heywood, defending, said no injuries were caused, the property stolen was ‘low value’ and it ‘wasn’t a particularly sophisticated robbery’.

She told the court that Devlin has ‘various mental health issues’ and spent a year at Chatterton Hey in Edenfield however ‘things have taken a downward spiral’.

She said: “He is clearly remorseful about what has happened and he can see the fear he caused to the victims.”

'Truly this was a terrifying incident'

Judge Beverley Lunt said there had been a ‘worrying increase in the serious nature’ of Devlin’s offending since 2012.

The court heard how in May 2012 he was convicted of stabbing his own brother in the chest while in possession of two knives.

He was also later convicted of breaking into a youth hostel and brandishing a kitchen knife and in a separate incident threatened to kill staff at a probation hostel while armed with a meat cleaver.

Sentencing, Judge Lunt said: “This was a pre-planned robbery of this shop where you armed yourself with a knife and wore a scarf which you then used to conceal part of your face and you had taken a bag in which to put any money you forced the people in the shop to hand over to you.

“The knife was brandished throughout the robbery at the members of staff and a customer and you verbally threatened to stab people if they didn’t cooperate with you.

“Truly this was a terrifying incident and even though no one was actually physically hurt they didn’t know you weren’t going to hurt them and people who then have to come back to work the next day in the shop, there’s a real psychological trauma involved.

“I have read your letter and I’m satisfied it indicated a very real remorse and very real regret for what your victims went through and for what you’ve done.

“Bearing in mind your previous convictions I am satisfied you are a dangerous offender within the meaning of the Criminal Justice Act and there is a significant risk to members of the public suffering serious harm, whether physical and or psychological, by you committing further offences.

“I am satisfied therefore that it is necessary to impose an extended sentence of imprisonment.

“You will serve at least two-thirds of the five years and four months in custody. Your case will then be referred to the parole board and they will decide if you should be released, and you will only be released if they decide it’s safe to do so.

“When you are released you will be on licence which will continue for three years so it makes the total length of your sentence eight years and four months.”