AN amateurish armed raid on an East Lancashire post office by two drug addicts left the owners terrified, a court heard.

Paul Barron and Gail Talbot are beginning jail sentences of six years apiece for their failed robbery of the Britannia sub-post office in Rochdale Road, with an imitation gun and police-style baton, on May 12.

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Burnley Crown Court heard that owners Sunny and Komal Golpani, who worked long hours, seven days a week at the branch and general store, were now reluctant to serve behind the counter alone.

Nick Flannigan, prosecuting, said Talbot tried to hold her anorak over her face and Barron attempted to conceal his identity with a piece of material when they burst into the premises.

Barron was armed with the fake gun, an air pistol, which he pointed at Mr Golpani and shouted “give me everything, give me everything”.

Talbot was armed with a police-style baton, which she rapped on the counter a number of times, in front of Mrs Golpani.

The court heard that at that point a chair, which Mr Golpani had been sat on, crashed to the floor, briefly startling the intruders and allowing him to activate an alarm under the counter.

Barron and Talbot fled the shop, each running in different directions. A passer-by unsuccessfully tried to chase Talbot but she escaped.

An investigation was launched and the defendants’ names were mentioned by witnesses. Barron initially denied involvement but then led police to where the imitation firearm had been stashed. Also found was a hooded top, thought to have been worn in the raid, which contained DNA evidence, through saliva, linking Talbot to the scene.

Barron, 39, of Clough Road, Bacup, and Talbot, 46, of Studd Brow, Whitworth, each admitted attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. Talbot alone pleaded guilty to possession of the baton.

Jailing them, Judge Andrew Woolman said: “This is not the usual type of armed robbery with an imitation firearm. These offence are often committed by hardened criminals.

“You are drug addicts and you undertook this to try to get money from a corner shop and post office. But the effect on the victims is exactly the same.”

Tim Storrie, for Barron, said the defendant had a longstanding heroin problem but had always worked.

Then the father-of-two had been made redundant and broke up with his wife. He turned back to heroin.

Keith Harrison, for Talbot, said his client had no similar previous convictions and accepted she faced immediate custody for her actions.