Petrol station raiders jailed

5:10pm Friday 18th July 2008

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TWO burglars have been jailed following a petrol station ramraid.

Aaron Rowlands, aged 23, was sentenced to three years and three months and Michael Harrison, also aged 23, was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Liverpool Crown Court.

The pair raided the New Boundary service station in Manchester Road, Leigh, at 4am on March 17.

They went to the garage in two stolen vans and drove the one van into the shop, stealing the till, cash and cigarettes, before driving the wrong way along the East Lancashire Road at speeds of up to 80mph.

Rowlands, of no fixed address, was arrested when he stopped his van and was found to be high on cocaine and two-and-a-half times over the legal drink drive limit.

Harrison, of Chapel Street, Leigh, was arrested when he crashed the van he was driving.

Both pleaded guilty to burglary, driving dangerously, without insurance and driving a stolen vehicle.

Rowlands also admitted driving while disqualified, with excess alcohol, no insurance and failing to attend a drugs test. The court heard that Harrison had also been drinking but was not breathalysed.