Rookie robber sentenced after dragging Hartlepool shop worker over counter

John Simpson, 23, who had no previous convictions, made off with cigarettes and tobacco without paying at the Premier Store, in Cornwall Street, after distracting the shop worker by asking for a lighter.

A few hours later he repeated the trick with £44 of cigarettes and tobacco at Cora’s store in Vicarage Gardens.

But when the female shop worker resisted Simpson, who had been taking drugs for two years, he dragged her over the counter, leaving her with an injured knee.

Both raids on December 5 were caught on the stores’ CCTV and Simpson, previously of Lister Street, Hartlepool, who is currently homeless, admitted theft and robbery at Teesside Crown Court.

Kelly Clarke, mitigating, said that he had been given a shock by his first experience with the law and spending five weeks in prison on remand.

She said that a pre-sentence report by a probation officer showed that he felt genuine remorse and empathy for the two shop assistants.

Ms Clarke said that the probation report stressed the importance of finding a place to live for Simpson to keep him away from crime and criminals, and that had not been achieved yet.

An impact statement by the Cora’s victim said the incident was frightening.

The judge Recorder Andrew Smith said: “People working in stores dread this happening.”

But he said there was a strong prospect Simpson could be rehabilitated.

He was sentenced to nine months of imprisonment, which was suspended for 24 months, with probation supervision.

He must also complete up to 40 rehabilitation activity days.