A MAN who was already in prison for holding up a bookmakers has been sentenced to a further eight months in custody for another robbery.

Ellington Hall, 32, held up a Ladbrokes betting office in Bank Street, Rawtenstall on March 30 last year.

Then just over a fortnight later he also robbed another branch of the betting shop in Bolton on April 14.

He appeared at Bolton Crown Court on September 25 and was sentenced to 40 months for the Greater Manchester job.

Hall, of no fixed address in the Manchester area, was then brought back before the court on June 20 and further sentenced for the robbery in Rawtenstall.

At around 9.20am, Hall and another man, both wearing balaclavas, entered the Rawtenstall bookmakers.

Hall ran to the back of the shop and jumped over the counter threatening the cashier.

He then began demanding money while the second man stood by the entrance to the shop.

Hall then pushed the female shop assistant into the office at the back of the shop.

When he realised there was no money there to steal, he then went back behind the counter and took money from the cash drawer before jumping over the counter and running from the store with the second man.

A customer who was already in the store gave chase but the men ran along Mill Gate Road and before he could reach them they got into a silver Toyota Avensis and drove off in the direction of Marl Pits.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and later released by police.

Detective Sergeant Mick Cross, of Pennine CID, said at the time: “Fortunately, nobody was hurt although the assistant has been left shocked following what can only be described as a terrifying ordeal.”