A VIOLENT robber who targeted a husband and wife as they cleaned up after a fiftieth birthday party has been jailed for 13 years.

Liam Worthington hit sports clubs, restaurants, social clubs and pubs across the region, including Walmersley Golf Club, using a steak knife, a pool cue and other weapons.

Worthington, aged 29, carried out the 11 violent robberies between October 2016 and February 2017.

On October 9 2016, a husband and wife were cleaning up after the 50th birthday party at Walmersley Golf Club when Worthington broke in.

He took a watch from the man's wrist and tore a gold necklace from his wife's neck, before stealing cash and a gold medal.

On January 8 2017 he then entered Haslingden Cricket Club, in East Lancashire, with a crowbar, shouting at staff and customers to get down on the floor.

He dragged a woman by her hair to the safe where stole a large amount of money.

A week later Worthington, of Marleyer Close in Moston, attacked a cleaner with a pool cue as he burgled Chadderton Cricket and Bowling Club.

He grabbed the woman by the neck and forced her to take him to the safe, before hitting her repeatedly with a pool cue.

He also hit sports clubs in Prestwich, Heywood, Rochdale Failsworth and Ashton.

Worthington has been jailed for 13 years and six months for burglary and conspiracy to burglar.

Detective Constable Mark Ellis of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “In the eleven robberies, Worthington’s violent actions contributed to the theft of over £21,000 in cash, a gold medal and jewellery which were ripped from his victims.”

“It is going to take a long time for the victims to recover from the damage left by this violent string of robberies.”

“These sports and social clubs were clearly targeted, with the man using everything from a steak knife to a spanner in his mission to steal from, and terrorise, these local businesses.”

“Worthington acted in the knowledge that violence and weapons would be used in this spree of offences, but in his arrogance, left behind a wealth of evidence which has ultimately led to his conviction.”

“I hope today’s sentence goes some way to bring justice to the staff and customers that were caught up in Worthington’s senseless crime spree.”