A CONVICTED robber who tried to raid an insurance company armed with a knife six weeks after being released on parole has been sent back to prison for nine years.

Philip Lord, 34, of Bury Road, Rawtenstall, was sentenced after pleading guilty at Bolton Crown Court.

Recorder David Aubrey said he was imposing a longer sentence than standard to protect the public from Lord, who already has a history of carrying out armed robberies.

Lord's latest, unsuccessful raid on Millway Insurance Services, Tonge Moor Road, on June 26 last year occurred only six weeks after he was released on licence from a seven year sentence for robbery.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said Lord targeted the shop at lunchtime when owner Irene Williamson was alone and had locked the door for security.

He got in when she recognised customer Frank Adams and opened the door for him. Lord followed him inside, produced a knife and cut Mr Adam's face before ordering him to leave.

Mr Adams, a black belt in jujitsu, went outside but held on to the door handle, effectively trapping Lord inside.

Lord attacked the door and then vaulted the counter, before eventually escaping, empty handed, through a rear window of the premises. Mr Lamberty commended Mr Adams for his great courage and Mr Adams, 46, vowed he would stand up to armed criminals again if he had to.

He said: "If I had to I would do the same thing again. You've got to stand up to these people and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it."

Lord was traced through a pager he left at the scene and a footprint found on the office counter.

Harold Goddard QC, defending Lord, said the office raid was an unplanned crime committed by Lord in a moment of madness.

He said Lord had spent most of his adult life in prison and was in danger of becoming institutionalised.

He described his client as "a wretched man."

Earlier in the week, Lord was found not guilty of carrying out a robbery at the Skipton Building Society office in Bolton town centre, on Tuesday, June 2, last year.

Recorder Aubrey ruled that evidence of identification was insufficient to justify a prosecution being put to a jury.

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