Two Bolton men jailed after spaying victims with ammonia in robbery
Last updated 27th May 2022
Two men have been jailed after robbing a Post Office in Accrington and spraying the staff with ammonia in the process.
£15k was taken from the shop on Abbey Street back in May 2019.
During the course of the robbery, Daniel Burtak sprayed ammonia from a washing up liquid bottle at staff, before escaping on a bicycle. On his way out of the Post Office, Burtak, who was wearing a false beard and a scarf to hide his face, sprayed ammonia at staff for a second time.
CCTV captured getaway driver Colin Naylor picking up Burtak close to a nearby pub in a black Mitsubishi Warrior pickup truck.
On May 31, 2019, the pair attempted to commit a second robbery – this time at the Post Office on Blackburn Road, Accrington.
At 11am on that day, Naylor was captured shopping at Asda on Moss Bank Way in Bolton.
CCTV then showed his Mitsubishi pickup being driven towards Accrington.
At 12.20pm, Burtak – wearing the same false beard and scarf as on May 10 – cycled to the Blackburn Road Post Office. He pushed at the front door but did not go inside.
Burtak’s actions roused suspicion with a Post Officer worker, who followed the defendant in his van onto Countess Street.
Burtak threw a bottle of washing up liquid containing ammonia at the Post Office worker’s van, before getting into Naylor’s waiting Mitsubishi pickup.
Burtak and Naylor were later filmed by a member of the public acting suspiciously around some bushes on China Street, Accrington. Recovered from the bushes were parts of Burtak’s disguise, including a wig which was used as the false beard and gloves, which contained the defendant’s DNA.
Officers also found the pickup abandoned on China Street. Recovered from inside was a distinctive navy blue and yellow snood, which contained traces of Burtak’s DNA and Naylor’s Asda receipt.
Both defendants were subsequently arrested and interviewed.
Burtak denied any involvement in the offences.
Naylor said that his pickup had been taken by a gang of Somalian men on May 10, who gave it back to him later that day and then took it from him again on May 31.
Those accounts were rejected by a jury at Burnley Crown Court earlier this year.
Burtak, 35, of Settle Street, Little Lever, Bolton, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and three counts of administering a noxious substance. He was sentenced to 12 years custody, with a three-year extended licence period after being deemed to be a dangerous offender.
Naylor, 51, of Raikes Way, Darcy Lever, Bolton, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was jailed for 12 years.
DC Alex Prendergast, of East Division, said: “This was a planned conspiracy, with both defendants playing their own key roles.
“Burtak’s actions inside the Post Office on Abbey Street were both cowardly and shocking. Understandably, they left the victims feeling terrified. Thankfully, although they did suffer some injuries, they were not serious.
“Despite the overwhelming weight of evidence against them, both defendants continued with their absurd assertions that they were not responsible for these crimes. I am pleased that the jury saw through their lies and came back with guilty verdicts.
“The sentences handed down by the judge reflect the seriousness of their offending. I am pleased, given his appalling actions, that Burtak has been classed as a dangerous offender and given an extended licence period. This will mean he will continue to be monitored by the authorities, even after he is released from custody.”