A DAD carried out an armed raid – the day after celebrating the birth of his second child.

Dominic Mather, aged 25, was this week jailed for more than eight years for his part in the raid and an earlier attempted robbery, which were carried out in August last year, the day after Mather’s partner had given birth to his second son.

Mather was one of two men armed with a loaded sawn-off shotgun who targeted the Co-op store in Highfield Road, Farnworth and the Betfred bookmaker in Tyldesley. Shane Myers, aged 28, was also jailed for more than eight years for his part in the offences.

The court was told how shortly before 11am on August 13, a delivery driver pulled up outside the Co-op store and had started taking stock into the shop.

He then saw two men approach the rear door wearing balaclavas and gloves.

One of the men was carrying a sawn-off shotgun. They tried to open the door but could not get in and left in a Citroen van and the delivery driver called police.

A short time later, two masked men, one of whom was armed with a shotgun, burst into the Betfred bookmaker in Elliot Street, Tyldesley.

The assistant manager, Diane Ainsworth and cashier Barbara Sergeant were both serving customers behind the counter and when the men entered, Miss Ainsworth pressed the alarm.

Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting, told the court that the men ran over to the two women and jumped over the counter and one of the men told all the customers in the shop to get on the floor.

The two men took money from the tills and Miss Ainsworth was forced to go to the safe and open it and the man took cash out.

One of the men went back to the tills and then fled with £625 in cash.

The Citroen van which had been seen outside the Co-op was found later that day in Tyldesley and a balaclava and a £20 note were found nearby.

Two men were seen entering a nearby house before getting into a BMW.

Police attended the property and found clothing in the garden and the shotgun in a bin.

The shotgun was inspected by officers and a cartridge was found in the barrel and when it was tested the gun was found to be capable of firing.

The clothing found at the scene was tested and DNA matches were found for Myers and Mathers.

Mather, of Ashawe Terrace in Little Hulton was arrested soon after and Myers, of no fixed abode, was arrested on August 17 in Farnworth.

The van seen at the scene of both the robberies had been stolen on August 10 from outside a convenience store in New Street, Blackrod.

The owner had gone inside and when he came out again saw his van was missing and presumed it had been taken when he dropped his keys.

Both Miss Ainsworth and Miss Sergeant suffered psychological effects after the robbery and were left unable to sleep and stressed about going to work.

David James, representing Mather, said: “On August 12 Mr Mather had been with his partner when she had been in labour for two days.

“It seems to have had an impact on him.

“He decided to wet the baby’s head and and held a party.”

“He has made some very silly decisions. Some very stupid decisions. His own observations are that he has genuine remorse.”

At the party drugs and alcohol were consumed.

In a letter read in court, Myers said: “If I could go back to that day I would not have done it. I did not plan to go there, it was spur of the moment. I am truly sorry for it.”

Judge Graeme Smith, said that he did not believe the pair woke up that morning and just decided to carry out the robbery and happened to have a stolen van, balaclavas and shotguns to hand.

He said: “We heard the victim impact statements of two members of staff who are profoundly affected. There were other people there.”

Both men were convicted to 80 months in prison for the robbery at the bookmakers and Myers was given 24 months in prison for the attempted robbery at the Co-op and Mather 20 months.

They were both given five year sentences for possession of a firearm with intent and possession of a firearm while carrying out an offence and three months for handling stolen goods, both to be served concurrently.

Myers was sentenced to eight years and eight months and Mather eight years and four months in prison.