A three-man gang attacked a petrol station manager, punched him in the face and bundled him into a cupboard.

Then the thugs snatched £156, a mobile phone and £120 worth of cigarettes from the Jet service station, Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope.

Only 23-year-old Michael Sheehan was arrested for the raid in August last year, Basildon Crown Court heard.

Sheehan, from East Ham, was traced through his fingerprints. He pleaded guilty to burglary but denied being responsible for assaulting the manager.

Sheehan, who said he took only two bags of cash, was ordered to work community service for 80 hours.

Published Friday, August 1, 2003

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