BUNGLING thief Lee Oates was glad to see the long arm of the law when his plan to snatch cash from a shop till went badly wrong.

Oates and another man who escaped, snatched £200 cash from a Poundstretcher till and ran outside to a stolen getaway car - but it refused to budge!

Then his accomplice, who was in the driver's seat, leapt from the vehicle scattering cash behind him and ran off hotly pursued by a member of staff.

Oates, who was left stuck in the passenger side of the car, tried to lock the door but outraged manager Beverley Davies wrenched it open. Oates told her get away as he had a blade but the brave manager held on.

Oates was struggling violently and a passer-by helped subdue him with several well-aimed blows.

When the police arrived Oates, of Nansen Road, Salford, was subdued and quiet, nursing a broken hand, cuts, bruises and swelling to his head. He said he was glad to see the police.

At Bolton Crown Court, Oates admitted theft, denied affray but admitted the lesser charge of causing fear and provoking violence, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and being carried in a stolen vehicle.

Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said Oates and his accomplice, who was never caught, aroused suspicion when a shop assistant saw them pick up a pair of children's gloves and bring them to the till.

She decided to open the till the minimum distance necessary to get the 1p change needed for the sale.

But as she did so both men lunged over the counter, grabbed a handful of notes and ran from the shop.

Staff pursued them and Oates was detained with the help of a passing shopper until the police arrived.

Defending Louise Kitchin said that he planned the theft because he was in financial difficulties and to feed his drug addiction. She said he had gained nothing from the offence and had received considerable injuries that needed hospital treatment. She added that he was relieved to see the police arrive.

He was now in the drug-free wing of the prison and recognised that he needed to reorganise his life. He was also helping the charity Mencap.

Assistant Recorder Graham Wood sentenced Oates to 30 months in prison for the despicable series of crimes. He warned him that if he didn't change his lifestyle he would "end up on society's scrapheap."