Jailed: Man who robbed Co-op in Middleton-in-Teesdale wearing dress and clown mask

CCTV image of the crime

A CROSS-DRESSING clown who robbed a Teesdale store has been jailed for 20 months.
Staff were left terrified when Thomas Prodger, of Jubliee Place, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, donned a dress and a clown mask to rob the village Co-op of cigarettes on September 21.
The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to the robbery at Durham Crown Court earlier today.
Prodger removed alcohol and cigarettes from the shop before being challenged by a member of staff.
He left the store with several packets of Lambert and Butler and Windsor cigarettes, leading to an appeal for the clothing. The defendant also wore washing up gloves to carry out the crime.
Judge Christopher Prince also handed down a restraining order to Prodger forbidding him from entering the store until further notice.
More in next week's Teesdale Mercury.

Thomas Prodger, 30, of Middleton-in-Teesdale