A bereaved son seeking solace in drink and drugs tried to pay off a debt to a loan shark by carrying out two armed robberies. James Rossiter’s life “spiralled out of control” after his dad died from cancer while he was out of the country. Liverpool Crown Court heard the grieving 23-year-old then ran up a £400 debt and received a threat against his family. After a night drinking, he decided to go out armed with a BB pistol and a police baton to rob a takeaway. Rossiter, of Barmouth Way, Vauxhall, hit Moonlight in Westminster Road, Kirkdale , at 1.50am on July 13 this year. He confronted Michael Lowry with the gun – who did not think it was real – and shouted: “Give me the f***ing money.” The takeaway worker refused to hand over any cash, so Rossiter fled empty-handed and went to nearby Barlow Lane. There he spotted taxi driver George Sargent, who had just filled up at a Texaco garage and was checking over his vehicle. Iain Criddle, prosecuting, said Rossiter approached with the gun in his hand and tried to cover his face with his t-shirt. He ordered “empty your clip” – thought to be a reference to a money belt – but Mr Sargent repeatedly said he did not have one. Are you a secret millionaire? £1million Lottery prize remains unclaimed The victim, who believed the weapon was real, shouted to a cashier “he’s got a gun” so Rossiter ran off and hurled it… [Read full story]
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