A TEENAGER who was part of a three-strong armed gang that injured a shopkeeper while attempting to rob his store in Bradford has been locked up for more than five years.

Umar Faiz, then 16, was carrying an axe when the group entered the Costcutter Store in Barkerend Road, Barkerend, in July 2016, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

His accomplice was armed with a sawn-off shotgun and between them, they threatened the shopkeeper, who was in his 50s, and attempted to get cash from the till.

Upon meeting resistance from the shopkeeper and his son, who came to his father’s assistance after hearing a commotion downstairs, the masked youths ran off to a waiting car. The court heard how police recovered the vehicle burnt out nearby and CCTV footage showed they had dumped their clothes in a clothing bin.

Forensics from the recovered clothes linked Faiz, now 18, of Warley Drive, Bradford Moor, and his accomplice Owais Ashfaq, to the attempted robbery. A third man is yet to be identified.

Faiz admitted charges of attempted robbery and a firearms offence, as well as separate charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance, in relation to an incident in November 2017, while he was on bail.

Prosecutor Michael Smith detailed how the shopkeeper Mr Singh had “struggled” with the gang, suffering a scratch to his hand and a significant injury to his back as a result.

“The back injury gave him considerable difficulty. He was unable to work for five weeks and had considerable difficulty walking.”

Andrew Stranax, for Faiz, said in mitigation that his client had been very young at the time of the offences.

Recorder Gurdial Singh, sentenced Faiz to five and a half years in a young offender institution, saying he was a “less criminally sophisticated” member of the trio.

He said: “Mr Singh courageously tried to prevent you from robbing the shop and was helped by his son. They were able to fight you off and you escaped with nothing.”

Ashfaq, of Gladstone Street, Barkerend, was given an extended jail sentence in September, aged 18, for his part in the shooting of a drug dealer, which took place after the attempted robbery.

Ashfaq was sentenced to 17 years in custody with five years extended licence, having admitted the Barkerend attempted robbery and the possession of an imitation firearm.