Man jailed after machete robbery spree in Preston
Joshua Tattersall has been jailed for nine years and six months
A man who went on a shoplifting spree with a machete in Preston has been jailed.
25-year-old Joshua Tattersall has been jailed for nine years and six months after being charged with possession of an offensive weapon, robbery, and three counts of attempted robbery.
He was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court last week.
A Lancashire police spokesperson said, "In July he was found guilty by a jury after he entered four shops in Preston on 18th April 2024, brandishing a machete, and robbing or attempting to rob them. Last week, he was jailed.
"Tattersall, 25 of Ambleside Road, Ribbleton, committed his crimes within 20 minutes, with the shops being nearby to each other.
"The first, he entered wearing a balaclava at 6:39pm, carrying a machete and demanded the shop assistant open the till. When the shop keeper raised the alarm, Tattersall fled.
"Just four minutes later, we received the second report. He again entered the second shop with a machete, demanded the till to be opened, and when the victim bravely shouted for help, he fled.
"Eight minutes after that, he entered the third shop, carrying a machete, and demanding the shop owner opened the till. He again fled when the shop owner shouted for someone to call the police.
"The final call, at 6:56pm, reported that Tattersall had again entered the shop, brandishing the machete, threatened the victim, and made off with £100 cash.
"An investigation began, and Tattersall was identified as the person responsible. He was arrested on suspicion of, and later charged with possession of an offensive weapon, robbery, and three counts of attempted robbery.
"He was found guilty in July 2025, and appearing in the dock at Burnley Crown Court last week he was sentenced to nine years and six months."
In a Victim Personal Statement, one of the victims said: “I remember the offender walking in and thinking, is this really happening, but when I saw the weapon I recognised that it was really happening. I felt scared, he was so close to me and the weapon was so big, I knew he could have easily reached me and seriously hurt me.”