Masked teens tried to rob bookmakers after pressure from stepfather
Two masked brothers attempted to rob a betting shop after being encouraged to do so by their criminal stepfather.
The teenagers, aged 16 and 17, burst into Ladbrokes, in Newland Street, Witham, and pushed manager Linda Beales to the floor, but left without stealing anything.
Mrs Beales, who has managed the store for 21 years, told Colchester Youth Court she was still suffering psychological trauma as a result of the incident.
The brothers, who were given detention orders by magistrates yesterday, had been living in local authority care, one in Tiptree and the other in Chelmsford, since the incident, on January 7.
See today's Daily Gazette for the full story
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