12 years jail for armed brothers who robbed Telford store

Two brothers, who robbed a Telford Spar store wielding shotguns and fired a shot inside, are sentenced to 12 years each in prison.

According to local reports, Matthew Reece and his brother Christopher went into the Spar in Leegomery at about 8am on October 21, 2021, and threatened customers and staff inside. During the robbery one of the shotguns was discharged and threats were made to kill. No-one was injured by the gun shot, but a wall was damaged.

The pair made off with cash and cigarettes. During the investigation it was established the men had planned the robbery and had carried out a reconnaissance of the store days before it took place.

In a recent hearing this week, the brothers were both sentenced to 12 years each by Shrewsbury Crown Court. They had both been previously been found guilty by a jury for robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Detective Inspector Sean Brennan, from Telford’s Proactive CID team, said, “Matthew and Christopher Reece are clearly violent and dangerous individuals who went into a busy convenience store first thing on a weekday morning both armed with a shotguns. They threatened customers and staff and caused even more fear by using one of the shotguns; while no-one was injured by the gunshot the consequences could have been far worse and those in the store at the time have quite understandably been left traumatised by the robbery.

“I’m pleased with the significant sentence that has been given today and am pleased that the pair are behind bars where they cannot cause more harm to our communities.”