A 23-year-old Nelson man has been jailed for three years for his part in a robbery in which £100 was taken from a shop till.

The Judge said he was satisfied that Neil Turner was not the leader or the organiser of the offence, but that the robbery was a serious crime.

The court heard that a second man allegedly involved was not picked out from an identity parade.

Preston Crown court was told that Inayat Patel was working alone at the Express Petrol Station on Manchester Road, Haslingden when two men came into the shop part of the garage.

A baseball bat was passed from one to the other and the money taken from the till.

Neil Turner, of Napier Street. Nelson, was convicted by a jury following a trial at Burnley Crown Court of robbery and witness intimidation.

The robbery took place at 10.50 pm on August 28 2005. Turner had allegedly confessed to a person at a party and had laterintimidated the witness.

Judge Michael Byrne said he accepted that the robbery was out of character for Turner and that there had been no injuries to the victim, but the offence was serious.