A couple who robbed a man in a supermarket car park have been jailed.

Ian William Main, 30, and Toni Claire Woods, 37, both of Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, were given custodial sentences at Carlisle Crown Court after being sentenced for the robbery, which occurred in the car park of B&M, in Penrith, in June 2017.

After being found guilty, Main was sentenced to three-and-a-half years behind bars. He will serve a further three-a-half-years in jail after being sentenced to a charge of arson (recklessly endangering life) in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, in March of this year. Woods was sentenced to three years for her part in the robbery.

Both were ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £170.

The court heard that Main and Woods had been camping in the area and were both intoxicated when they went to the Ullswater Road branch of McDonalds at 5am on June 17.

Peter Gustaffson, a Swedish national, was in the area and asked the pair if they would take him home to Greystoke. They agreed but Mr Gustaffson grew concerned by Main’s erratic driving.

Main stopped the car in the B&M car park and offered Mr Gustaffson some cocaine. When Mr Gustaffson refused, Woods pulled him out of the car and started to attack him.

The court heard she subjected him to punches and slaps, as well as racial abuse, and tried to steal his bag which Mr Gustaffson claimed contained his passport, money and all his possessions.

Main then joined in before the defendants drove away with Mr Gustaffson’s bag and watch. Despite his injuries, Mr Gustaffson managed to take a photo of the car which led to them being stopped by police.

Main was also sentenced for setting fire to his South Shields flat, one of six in a communal block, in March, which put neighbours in danger.

Defending Main, Harriet Johnson said he had battled with drink and drug abuse since he was 12 but had been clean for seven months.

Susan Hirst, for Woods, said the attack was out of character and the defendant was worried for the future of her 15-year-old daughter.

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Police in Carlisle have spoken of their satisfaction after the couple were jailed.

Detective Constable Sarah Edgar, from the North Cumbria Crime and Safeguarding Team, said: “We are pleased that both Main and Woods will be spending time behind bars for their actions,

“They put the victim through a terrifying ordeal in order to steal from him. He was subjected to not only the reckless driving, which thankfully did not lead to other road users being hurt, but also being assaulted by both in a car park.

“I would like to thank the victim for his bravery and hope that this sentencing provides some form of closure.”