Man jailed for armed robbery at Accrington shop

Friday, 30 October 2026 at 16:50

By Central Radio News

A man who carried out an armed robbery at a shop in Accrington has been jailed.

Lee Willson (pictured right) pulled on a skull balaclava mask before entering the Best One shop and then pointed an imitation firearm with a silencer at the lone cashier.

He made several demands for the victim to open the till and give him money.

Willson then said “I’ll shoot you” while appearing to cock the pistol.Lee Willson

When he failed in his attempt to have the till opened, Willson said “I shoot you” and “open now” while still pointing the weapon towards him.

He then grabbed a handful of cigarette packets from a drawer underneath the till before fleeing the store.

Willson struck at the store on Blackburn Road at 11.35pm on Wednesday 17th December, 2025.

CCTV enquiries showed Willson waiting outside the store for around 10 minutes while waiting for a customer to leave before committing the robbery.

Earlier the same evening, Willson and another man were seen on CCTV stealing two bottles of alcohol from Tesco on Eagle Street before making off from security.

Willson, 30, of Gratton Road, Bradford, appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court on Monday (26th October) after pleading guilty to robbery, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and theft from a shop.

He was jailed for five years and two months.

Det Con Shaun Whittaker, of Blackburn CID, said: “By choosing to use a highly realistic imitation firearm during a robbery at a shop, Lee Willson committed a dangerous and premeditated crime.

“His actions left a lone member of staff clearly in distress and fearful that he would be killed.

“I welcome the court’s decision to hand down a prison sentence, reflecting the incredibly serious nature of crimes involving firearms or replica weapons.”