This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-42665667
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
KFC and Tesco machete robberies: Ex-rugby star Malcolm Alker jailed | KFC and Tesco machete robberies: Ex-rugby star Malcolm Alker jailed |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A former rugby international who robbed a KFC restaurant and a Tesco Express store while armed with a machete has been jailed for four years. | A former rugby international who robbed a KFC restaurant and a Tesco Express store while armed with a machete has been jailed for four years. |
Malcolm Alker, who played for Salford City Reds, pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court to two counts of armed robbery and carrying a bladed weapon. | |
The former hooker played more than 350 games for the rugby league side between 1997 and 2010 and won two England caps. | |
Alker, of Rathern Avenue, Higher Ince in Wigan, was also a coach at the club. | Alker, of Rathern Avenue, Higher Ince in Wigan, was also a coach at the club. |
The Crown Prosecution Service said Alker, 39, and his co-defendant Michael Naylor had robbed the two businesses on 31 October 2017. | |
'Hands up' | 'Hands up' |
The pair, who were wearing balaclavas, raided the fast food restaurant in Pemberton first, before moving onto the shop in Whelley, a spokesman said. | The pair, who were wearing balaclavas, raided the fast food restaurant in Pemberton first, before moving onto the shop in Whelley, a spokesman said. |
She said a bundle of £20 notes they took from the Tesco Express contained a GPS tracker, which police tracked to Delegarte Street in Ince. | She said a bundle of £20 notes they took from the Tesco Express contained a GPS tracker, which police tracked to Delegarte Street in Ince. |
Officers found Naylor "hiding behind a car" with the notes and tracker in his pocket and Alker "then came out of the bushes with his hands up". | Officers found Naylor "hiding behind a car" with the notes and tracker in his pocket and Alker "then came out of the bushes with his hands up". |
Naylor, 25, of West Street, Higher Ince, admitted the same offences as Alker and received the same sentence. | Naylor, 25, of West Street, Higher Ince, admitted the same offences as Alker and received the same sentence. |
Alker retired due to injury in 2010 and his 16-year association with Salford ended the following year. | Alker retired due to injury in 2010 and his 16-year association with Salford ended the following year. |
He captained the club for almost a decade, but courted controversy a number of times and was stripped of the role in 2009 following a breach of club rules during a January training camp in America. | He captained the club for almost a decade, but courted controversy a number of times and was stripped of the role in 2009 following a breach of club rules during a January training camp in America. |
He returned as captain two months later, but eventually left the club following a dispute over a training ground incident in April 2011. | He returned as captain two months later, but eventually left the club following a dispute over a training ground incident in April 2011. |
He later admitted in his autobiography to taking cocaine and banned growth hormones during his playing days. | He later admitted in his autobiography to taking cocaine and banned growth hormones during his playing days. |