A 16-YEAR-old boy was part of a three-man gang that terrorised shop assistants with a gun, knives and an axe.

But, encouraged by his father, teenager Peter Waring came clean about the raids at a Texaco garage and Cost Cutter and Cost Less stores in Leigh.

He said he wanted to apologise to the victims and told police about the robberies to make a clean breast of his crimes.

The court heard that at the garage, Waring went to buy cigarette papers but alleged Michael Sharrock appeared in a mask with a gun. The cashier was so frightened that she could not open the till, but eventually put £80 into a bag.

The teenager was one of three balaclava-clad raiders who burst-into the Cost Less store wielding a knife and a claw hammer, and stole cash and cigarettes.

Waring was one of two raiders at the Cost Cutter store, one of whom put a knife in the assistant's face and demanded cash.

He also burgled houses and admitted taking stolen property to the Chisworth Close home of accomplices Sharrock, 31, and his girlfriend, Zoe Pasquill, 20.

This week, the three appeared at Bolton Crown Court facing 27 charges including burglary, handling stolen goods, theft, taking vehicles without the owner's consent, and disqualified driving.

Waring also faced two robbery charges, three offences of burglary, one theft charge and a handling offence.

Judge Elliott Knopf jailed Sharrock for three and-a-half years, consecutive to 103 days outstanding on licence from a previous sentence. He was also banned from driving for three years.

Waring, formerly of Davis Avenue, Newton-le-Willows, received a two-year detention and training order.

Pasquill was sentenced to a two-year community rehabilitation order with a condition she attends offender programmes.

Geoff Whelan, prosecuting, said all three were involved in a series of offences where property from burglaries at seven addresses in Leigh was taken to Chisworth Close.

Police recovered items including electrical goods, bank cards, lawn mowers, CD players, handbags, mobile phones, training shoes, boots, perfume and food.

Sharrock, Pasquill and Waring were also seen in four cars taken from burgled houses.

The court heard Sharrock went to live with Pasquill after leaving prison and became involved in crime when Waring brought stolen goods to the flat.

Pasquill, who is pregnant with Sharrock's child, was addicted to alcohol and Valium, and was swept along into the crimes.