Two men who took part in a “terrifying” knifepoint robbery at Chinese takeaway premises among a series of offences, are both starting long prison sentences.

Brian Philip Stevenson entered the Dynasty Takeaway in Beverly Way, Peterlee, with his face partially concealed, leapt the counter and produced an 8in-bladed knife from his sleeve before confronting the shocked female assistant, at 7.25pm on Thursday, February 15 this year.

Durham Crown Court heard that Stevenson demanded that the till be opened and made threats to both the 17-year-old assistant and to kitchen staff, warning them he would “cut them up” if they contacted police.

Stevenson said he was in “desperate” circumstances and fled the premises with the till drawer containing about £300.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

He met his accomplice, Stephen Kenneth Ambler, who was acting as a lookout outside, and a third, unknown man, who gathered the money and threw the till drawer to the ground, leaving the two defendants at the scene.

When they were later arrested, they gave no comment replies to police in interview.

A victim impact statement from the takeaway assistant was summarised to the court.

She outlined how she was struggling to be able to return to work, which was having a financial impact on her, and she said she had suffered nightmares and had anxiety just going out and about, fearing she might see the defendants in the street.

Stevenson, 36, of Derwent Street, South Hetton, admitted charges of robbery and possessing an offensive weapon, early in court proceedings.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said at the time of the offence he was on bail for driving offences, having appeared in court on February 6, only nine days before the robbery.

Those offences arose from a police chase in a silver Peugeot car in the Hartlepool area, on June 7 last year, when he swerved from lane to lane, drove the wrong way around a roundabout, moved onto the opposite carriageway and travelled at 60-mph in a 30-limit area.

For safety reasons, the pursuing police officers briefly abandoned the chase, before picking it up again when the defendant returned to the correct lane.

It ended when he stalled in a cul-de-sac and an officer managed to get to the car and remove the keys from the ignition to prevent Stevenson restarting.

He was tested for drugs and found to be more than three-and-a-half times over the limit for driving.

Miss Haugstad said the driving offences were committed while he was subject to a community order for driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He admitted charges of dangerous driving, while over the drug limit and no insurance arising from the June 7 pursuit, last year.

Ambler was also before the court for offences of burglary of a house in Peterlee, in which he removed keys to the householder's Honda Civic car, which was then stolen, on February 21, this year, five days after the takeaway robbery.

He was also charged with attempted burglary of a domestic garage at another property in Peterlee, on the same day.

Ambler, 45, of Windermere Road, South Hetton, admitted charges of burglary, attempted burglary and theft arising from those incidents, but denied involvement in the robbery.

Following a three-day trial this week he was convicted of the robbery, on Thursday (June 20), and appeared back at court for sentence with Stevenson, both via video link from nearby Durham Prison, on Friday (June 21).

(Image: The Northern Echo)

The court heard that both have more than 100 offences on their records, including previous robbery and attempted robbery offences, plus burglary, in Ambler’s case, while Stevenson has a past conviction for attempted robbery, plus several for driving offences.

Calum McNicholas, representing both defendants, said the driving chase Stevenson was involved in, last June, was late at night with few vehicles on the road at the time.

Referring to the robbery, he said Stevenson’s comment to takeaway staff that he was “desperate” was true, as he was placed under pressure to commit the offence, as the “third male” armed him with the knife and then received the proceeds afterwards.

Mr McNicholas said Stevenson is rehabilitating from substance misuse but is making a good fist of his time in custody, where he is an enhanced prisoner, and added: “Hopefully, the man who comes out of prison will be a different man from the one who went in.”

Regarding Ambler, Mr McNicholas said: "He, clearly, played a lesser, more passive role in the robbery”, but he conceded he would receive no reduction in sentence as he took the case to trial and was found guilty.

Judge Peter Armstrong said at the time, in February, Ambler appeared to be on something of a, “one-man crime wave.”

He said the robbery was the most serious offence for both defendants.

“It was an extremely serious robbery and the most serious aspect was that the young lady, who was confronted, was only 17 when you (Stevenson) hopped over the counter with an 8in knife, which you brandished and with which you threatened to cut up people inside the takeaway.

“It was, clearly, a terrifying episode which continued to affect that young lady for some time afterwards and, it would seem, continues to do so.”

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He imposed a total five-year prison sentence on Stevenson, and Ambler received a six-year sentence, having denied the robbery.

Both defendants must serve two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for release on licence.

They were each, also, made subject of a restraining order relating to the takeaway assistant, prohibiting them from contacting of approaching her, for ten years.