'Frightening ordeal' as knife-wielding robber storms into bakery and steals cash leaving woman terrified

A hooded knife-wielding robber stormed into a bakery and stole cash in an armed burglary, leaving a staff member terrified.

The 'frightening ordeal' saw Patrick Hood, 37, storm into the bakery on Manchester Road in Rochdale on September 24 2020. Police said he had conducted a 'reconnaissance' on the bakery before the offence.

The burglary took place in broad daylight with the street busy with people at the time, police added, and caused 'significant distress' to the woman working in the shop alone.

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A court heard that Hood scoped out the bakery before going to an address, changing his appearance and then returning armed with the knife.

Following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police Hood, of Crescent Road, Rochdale was charged. He appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday (October 18) after pleading guilty to burglary and possession of an offensive weapon and was jailed for two years and six months.

Detective Constable Russell Clarke of GMP Rochdale CID said: "On 24 September 2020, Hood planned and executed this burglary on Manchester Road in Rochdale in broad daylight and with large numbers of people present on the street.

"He first conducted reconnaissance on the bakery to aid him in the offence and then went to an address where he changed his appearance and armed himself with a knife. He then returned to the bakery where he stole a quantity of cash and caused significant distress to the woman who was working there on her own.

"CCTV enquiries quickly led to the identification of Patrick Hood as a suspect