Man pleads guilty to attempting to rob a bakery in Handforth

A man who attempted to rob Greggs Bakery in Handforth has pleaded guilty to a number of offences.

A man who attempted to rob Greggs Bakery in Handforth has pleaded guilty to a number of offences.

Vincent Foley, 43, from Bailey Lane Manchester appeared at Chester Crown Court on 13th August and pleaded guilty to burglary and theft, attempted robbery, and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

He pleaded not guilty to section 18 wounding with intent and fraud by false representation, these charges will lie on file.

He has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on 11 September.

The charges relate to an attempted robbery at the bakery in Wilmslow Road in Handforth on 4th July and a burglary at an address in Meriton Road, Handforth on the same day.  The fraud relates to using stolen cheques on 7th July.

Foley entered the office area of the bakery on Wilmslow Road and assaulted a member of staff with a hammer. The staff member ran to his colleagues in the front and they ran out of the shop to safety.

Foley then tried to open the safe but failed and left empty-handed.

The same day he broke into a house in Meriton Road in Handforth and stole a number of watches and bracelets, a deactivated antique shotgun and a cheque book.

Foley tried to write himself a cheque for £2,000 and £4,000, which was refused by the bank who alerted the victim.

The cheque book was found in Foley’s car when he was stopped and arrested by Greater Manchester Police after being spotted driving erratically in Rochdale on 14 July.

Detective Constable Ash said:

“Foley was caught on camera putting his on balaclava so we got a good look at his face and were able to do an appeal to the public to identify him.

“This definitely highlights the benefits of having CCTV. It makes life much harder for criminals knowing, or in Foley’s case, not realising, there is CCTV around.”