A YOUTH involved in robbing a pub landlord in Leigh has been jailed for four years and eight months.

Sean Dempster, aged 19, of Birch Road, Leigh, was one of three masked intruders who broke into The Ellesmere pub in St Helens Road in the early hours of October 1 last year.

Brandishing an extendable baton, they woke licensee Peter Kennedy and tied his wrists and ankles with plastic ties.

The men took £1,041 cash and the keys to his Vauxhall Astra.

After they left, he managed to free himself by burning the ties with his lighter.

An officer spotted the car and begun following it. The gang abandoned the car shortly afterwards, but Dempster was chased and caught, said Miss Sarah Phelan, prosecuting.

During his pursuit, he threw a rucksack into a garden in Cowper Street. It was found to contain a plastic tie similar to those used to bind Mr Kennedy, and £855 cash. A further £186 cash was found nearby.

Dempster admitted taking part in the robbery but refused to name his accomplices.

He pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to robbery and aggravated vehicle taking involving a silver Vauxhall Nova stolen from Charles Street, Golborne, on June 4.

Police chased the car as it sped through Lowton, reaching 80mph. While on Newton Road, St Helens, it collided with an oncoming vehicle. Dempster ran off but was chased and caught.

Miss Deborah Gould, defending, said Dempster had not appreciated his accomplices had intended to carry out a robbery.

His role involved searching the premises and he did not tie up or threaten the victim.

Jailing Dempster, Judge Sean Duncan said: "The publican must have been extremely frightened.

"I accept you had not been the leader of the gang, but you played an important part in the robbery."