Leah George (19), of Princess Street, and a 17-year-old from Burnley who cannot be named for legal reasons raided the One Stop Shop in Colne Road, Burnley, on the evening of March 21st.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the masked 17-year-old brandished a 12in. machete when he attacked the shop.

He had enlisted the help of George, who went along with his plans and volunteered to hold open the door so he could escape - despite having two young children.

The 17-year-old, who was just 16 at the time, had borrowed clothes to avoid forensic detection and was wearing a ski mask. He claimed he was in debt and had had a gun held to his head but got away with only £17-worth of cigarettes and not the cash he needed.

The victims at first thought it was a joke as the youth demanded money from the till.

The Burnley youth was sent to custody for three and a half years, with two years extended licence, after a judge ruled he was a danger to the public.

George, who also has a criminal record, was detained for two years. Both had admitted robbery.

Sentencing, Recorder Anthony Cross said the pair had planned the "very grave" offence, significant thought had gone into it and it was a team effort. The machete was a terrifying weapon.

The judge said the offence was committed at night, the two shopkeepers were vulnerable and although the 17-year-old had got away with cigarettes he had been trying to get cash from the till.

Recorder Cross added the 17-year-old, who owned up almost immediately on being caught by police, did not use force but there was a high degree of threat. The defendant was convicted of possessing a knife when he was 11 or 12 and had been given a supervision order.

Recorder Cross told the court the youth posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public and the offence had shown an "escalating pattern of behaviour."

The judge said George, who had a record for violence and dishonesty, must have known what her co-defendant was intending to do. He said the court was concerned over how a mother of two young children could have got involved in an offence which could have resulted in very significant physical harm.

Recorder Cross added the defendant appeared to have volunteered to take part in the robbery "incredibly easily".