Cousins with knife raided two convenience stores within 30 minutes.

The proprietor of the first business forced them out, but they stole a stash of smokes at the next store.

A pair of drug-addicted cousins were kicked out of a Leicestershire convenience store after threatening employees with a knife in order to steal cigarettes.

So the duo were driven to a second shop six miles away in Leicester, where Luke Walker and Owen Redshaw successfully persuaded the “distraught” shopkeeper to let them steal from her establishment.

The incident occurred at 9.06 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, when the two arrived in a red sedan at the Select Convenience Store on Croft Road in Cosby.

Both men were wearing masks and hoods that obscured their features, and Redshaw stormed in first, going straight behind the unmanned counter.

The male business owner saw him enter through the CCTV screens in the back office and ran out to confront Redshaw.

Meanwhile, Walker entered behind his cousin and drew out a long knife. However, the shopkeeper, assisted by a female employee, pulled them out after a brief battle behind the counter.

Both males fled empty-handed, returning to their getaway car, which took them six miles to a Leicester business.

At 9.30 a.m., the guys stormed into Harrison News, off Saffron Lane in the city, where a female shopkeeper was alone in the business.

Redshaw shoved his way behind the counter again, while Walker, who stood opposite her, pointed the blade at the woman. She stood while Redshaw loaded a shopping bag with cigarettes.

After around two minutes, they left, and the woman was shown on CCTV at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday (December 3) with her head in her hands, in what Judge Timothy Spencer KC described as a “distraught and distressed” state.

While they were both totally disguised on the CCTV tape, their faces became more evident as they rushed down Grace Road towards their getaway automobile, which was seen on a separate camera in the street.

Leicestershire Police were able to identify and locate the cousins within hours of reviewing the film. They were detained at their home in The Slade Greens, Eyres Monsell, Leicester, at 3 p.m. the same day.

Both were accused with robbery and attempted robbery, and after pleading not guilty, they faced trial at the crown court on Monday, November 24. However, on Wednesday, both had modified their pleas to guilty.

Prosecutor Phillip Plant stated that both have lengthy criminal backgrounds. Walker, 34, has prior convictions for robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, ABH, GBH, shoplifting, and narcotics crimes.

Redshaw, 42, has 61 convictions on his record, including 34 thefts, GBH, and assaulting a police officer.

Redshaw’s lawyer, Alex Wolfson, said his client owed money on drugs and that his elderly parents had been intimidated. He stated: “He felt he had little choice but to do as he was ordered.

“He is sorry for what the victims had to go through.” Walker’s attorney, Gary Short, stated that his client had been addicted to heroin since the age of 14 and that the offences committed in January were “a way for him to make some money for his next fix.”

Judge Spencer informed both men, “The shops in this nation are quite concerned about this type of behaviour.

“They are a huge value to our country, and they should not have to take this risk. This will have to be the longest sentence any of you has ever served.

You’re both too old to continue offending. “You both deserve a better life.

However, the final decision is entirely up to you.” Both were imprisoned for three years and nine months.

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