Jail for Wilmslow armed robbers

Three Merseyside men are now behind bars for a combined total of 26 years following an armed robbery in Wilmslow.

Ian Hughes, 52, was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months, Michael Connolly, 52, was sentenced to 7 years and 4 months and John Alderson, 55, was sentenced to 6 years and 4 months by the judge at Chester Crown Court on Monday 31 July.

On 20 May shortly before 12:50pm the three men entered a travel agents wearing balaclavas on Dean Row Road, Wilmslow. They threatened staff with a knife and took a quantity of cash from the store’s safe.

The trio were arrested a short time later in the Staffordshire area. They were subsequently charged with robbery and all pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Investigating officer DC Rob Wolstenholme said: “To be the victim of any violent crime is never acceptable, but to be the victim of a masked armed robbery is even more traumatic. Alderson, Hughes and Connolly spared no thought for the staff members at work that day or the member of the public who was in the store – they were only intent on getting hold of money to further fund their criminal behaviour.

“I am pleased the judge could see the threat these men posed to the communities of Cheshire. The sentences handed to all three has helped to remove a number of dangerous individuals from our streets for some time.

“The conclusion of this case is a result of a fantastic team effort by Macclesfield Local Policing Unit. We hope it sends out a strong message that we will not tolerate traveling criminals crossing the border in order to commit such serious crimes.”