Man jailed for robbery of Lytham jewellers

Police at the scene of the robbery at jewellers' Leonard Dews, Lytham.

Darren Peter Smith, 41, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday, having previously pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery during a trial at the same court last November.

The robbery took place at Leonard Dews jewellers in Clifton Street, Lytham, in September 2011.

Smith entered the shop pretending to be a customer and allowed the entry of three masked, armed men, who then smashed the shop’s display cases and stole a number of high-value items.

Det Insp Nick Connaughton of Blackpool CID said: “This was a nasty robbery, and was one of a number that was committed against Leonard Dews jewellers in a short space of time.

“These robberies affected the owner so badly that he chose to close the shop, and so, we welcome the court’s decision to jail Smith.”