Robbery Victim Backs New Guidelines

A Liverpool mum left traumatised after she was held up at gunpoint is backing new tougher sentences for armed robbers.

Crimes ranging from street muggings to major heists will now carry stricter penalties - and the courts must take into account the psychological harm that victims suffer.

Claire was working at a petrol station in Speke when two men carried out a raid armed with a gun and a knife.

It happened last April - but she's only just been able to return to work. Speaking to us about her ordeal, she says it's left her traumatised.

"These two lads ran in with masks on, screaming 'Where's the money? Where's the money?' One had a mask on, the other had an iron bar and they were just screaming at us to get on the floor.

"I got on the floor and all I could think about was my family. I've got two sons, a daughter, and grandchildren - all I could think was, I'm never going to see them again. You've got a gun to your head, you don't know if it's real or if it's a toy, if it's loaded or not loaded - it's awful."

Under the new guidelines, offenders who use guns and knives should get the longest jail terms and judges must now consider both physical injuries, and psychological harm - so the full impact on victims is taken into account.

Claire says she's been left deeply traumatised by what happened to her.

"I haven't been able to sleep - I've had to get sleeping tablets. The doctor's put me on anti-depressants, I don't like to go to the shops on my own, my daughter has to come with me. People don't realise what it does to you. It does knock you. I used to be a happy person and go out, I just don't like to go out anywhere now.

"How would they like it if someone went to their house or their mum's house and held a gun to her head? It's just not nice. It shouldn't happen to innocent people."

Under the new guidelines, the starting point for the most serious cases will be 16 years behind bars. They'll come into effect from April this year.

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