Four people - two of them teenagers - have been sentenced following an armed robbery allegedly involving a pistol and a wrench at a letting and estate agency in Bury.
Jonathan Hogan, 22, was found guilty of robbery and possession of an imitation firearm and Daniel Ogden, 19, was found guilty of robbery. John Grimshaw, 23, pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Meanwhile a 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and converting criminal property.
Grimshaw was jailed for seven years, Hogan for seven years, Ogden for five-and-a-half years and the 17-year-old given a Youth Rehabilitation Order for 12 months.
The incident happened at a branch of the Pearson Ferrier agency last July, when two of the men forced a staff member into a back room; Grimshaw allegedly struck one of the other staff members in the face with a weapon, leaving serious injuries.
Then about £5,340 was stolen from the office.
A bystander noted down the registration number of the getaway vehicle, and was given a £300 reward by the agency. The judge at Bolton Crown Court said that without the bystander's courage, vigilance and bravery it was questionable whether the offenders would have been caught.
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