A GUN-toting masked raider who attempted to rob a family-run shop is behind bars for five years.

Jamie Alan Smith, 20, was wielding a realistic but fake military semi-automatic rifle, when he and two accomplices burst into the Phoenix Video and Convenience Store, in Skipton Road, Barnoldswick.

But the raiders’ attempts were foiled and Smith’s identity revealed when the Crockett family tackled them, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Following the judge’s decision to send the defendant to a young offenders’ institution for five years, both the Crockett family and police said they were “happy” with the result.

But the victim said he would be happier if all three raiders involved had been “brought to justice.”

The court heard how the balaclava-clad trio burst into the store at 7pm, on November 15 last year.

Mr Crockett, 45, sprang to his wife Elaine's defence as one of the gang held a knife near her chin and demanded she open the till.

The father-of-two launched himself at Smith, fought with him and pulled off his hat, revealing his face, which was captured on CCTV.

His wife then tackled the knifeman, and the couple's 18-year-old son James also intervened and went to hit Smith, who claimed he was a witness.

The gang eventually fled empty-handed when Mr Crockett managed to get a pickaxe handle he kept under the counter.

Smith, of Reedyford Road, Nelson, was identified by his fingerprints on the weapon. The other two raiders remain at large.

Dennis Watson, QC, defending, said Smith had been reluctant to get involved in the robbery. Sentencing Smith, Judge Simon Newell, praised the family’s “highly comme-ndable” actions.

Speaking after the case Mr Crockett said: “Even though the gun turned out not to be not real, we didn’t know that and we were battling for our lives. Some people will say what I did was stupid, but if more people acted like that, perhaps we would have a better world.”

Det Insp Dave Groombridge, of Pendle CID, added: “Jamie Smith thought he could brandish a firearm in the face of a woman.

"But he met his match when the woman’s husband and son intervened.

“The police are often reticent to encourage the public apprehending criminals and I would echo that sentiment.

“I also appreciate people some times have an instinctive need to react in the interest in all that is proper and right.”