A prolific offender who robbed a Spar shop at knifepoint while on the run from police over a 90mph motorway chase has been jailed.

Craig Mellor, formerly of Garrick Street, Nelson, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday charged with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The court heard that on May 11 2020, two years before the robbery, Mellor was seen by police driving in Burnley Road in Accrington at around 9.30am.

Prosecuting, Beth Pilling, said: “Officers believed the vehicle he was driving was linked to a theft and followed it.

“Mellor then tried to lose the police by heading onto the A56, travelling at around 90mph, before joining the M65 in the direction of Nelson, where he undercut cars by driving on the hard shoulder and sped through a 50mph section of the motorway.

“He drove in such a way that the police could not understand how he didn’t cause an accident.

“He the crashed into a bollard down a narrow lane in Nelson, exited the vehicle and tried to run from the police, but was apprehended a short time later.”

Miss Pilling said police discovered Mellor was disqualified from driving, and had been for more than 20 years, having never passed a re-test following his initial ban.

He was due to appear in court over the offences in March last year, but failed to attend and spent the next 15 months evading police, missing opportunities to turn himself in.

It was during this 15-month period, the court heard, that Mellor decided to carry out a robbery of a Spar shop in Nelson.

Miss Pilling told the court that on April 21, Mellor, 42, was captured on CCTV behind the Spar shop, in Leeds Road.

She said: “He was on a push bike, and on the CCTV he can be seen holding a balaclava, before placing it on and entering the Spar.

“He then pulls a knife out in front of two members of staff who were both behind the counter.

“It was around 4.20pm and there were other customers in the shop.

“Mellor pointed the knife towards the shop workers and demanded they empty the tills, shouting ‘give me the money or I will stab you’.”

Mellor was handed between £60 and £100 from one till and around £230 from another.

Miss Pilling said Mellor then demanded the Post Office till be opened but when this couldn’t be actioned, he attempted to climb over the counter and get behind the till.

One of the staff members managed to push the panic button to raise the alarm before Mellor shouted ‘b****rds’, left the shop and cycled away.

Miss Pilling went on: “An image of him was circulated and police recognised him, and he was later located and arrested.

Mellor, who has 40 convictions for 80 offences, pleaded guilty to all the offences.

Sentencing, Recorder Michael Maher, said: “The driving offences were committed during the first lockdown, and you were pursued for a considerable period of time reaching speeds of up to 90mph on the A56 and then on the M65.

“You were undercutting on the hard shoulder and it’s sheer dumb luck that you didn’t hurt anyone.

“You said you bought the car the day before, but you had no business owning a car as you had been disqualified from driving since 1998 and have never passed an extended re-test.

“You were committed for sentence on March 8 2021, but failed to surrender and you were at large for 15 months, in effect, a fugitive.

“And while at large you robbed the Spar on Leeds Road in Nelson, at knifepoint.

“You said it was a plastic knife but that’s irrelevant - it’s the fear you instilled in the staff.

“One of the staff believed that you intended to stab her and courageously she hit the panic button.

“A priest who had tried to help you previously recognised you on the police Facebook appeal, and it appears you had been homeless in Cleveleys and returned to your old haunts in Nelson and fell back into addiction and became bitter towards the authorities.

“One of the shop workers was terrified and has since quit her job, all because you were chasing your next fix.

“You say this was a cry for help but that is offensive. You have been a heroin addict for the best part of 25 years and it’s blighted your life.”

Mellor was handed six years and six months in prison and was disqualified from driving, again, for 12 months, extended by three years and 13 weeks to take into account the time he will spend in custody.

He has also been banned from entering the Spar in Leeds Road for 10 years.