Two robbers who pushed store workers while armed with screwdrivers have been put behind bars.
Sean Humphrey, 30, and Phillip Padgett, 28, were wearing face masks and had their hoods pulled up when they targeted J&H Local in Sunderland. Newcastle Crown Court heard how they pushed two members of staff and shouted "open the f***ing till" before stealing £153.83 worth of alcohol.
Phillip Morley, prosecuting, told the court how one of the frightened employees believed, throughout the ordeal, that she was being threatened with a knife. In a victim impact statement, read to the court by Mr Morley, she said: "This incident was terrifying and I was frightened and scared. I do not expect this type of thing to happen when I come to work. I'm normally happy and excited to come to work but this has left me feeling violated and worried about coming to work in the future."
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The court in Newcastle heard how the owners had to close the shop in New Silksworth following the robbery on March 24 this year. Mr Morley said: "The store say that they have lost an estimated £2,000 in takings as a result of the incident."
The prosecutor said both men were arrested together at a home in the Silksworth area of the city. He said: "They defendants were interviewed shortly after the incident. They were both interviewed and, in their interview, they give no comment to all questions."
After watching CCTV footage in court, Recorder Mark Giuliani pointed out that two children could be seen running out of the store at the time. He said: "In my judgement, they are clearly scared by what's going on and they run out of the store in fear."
Humphrey, of Blind Lane, New Silksworth, Sunderland, and Padgett, of Tatham Street, central Sunderland, both pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery. Both defendants appeared in the courtroom on Friday afternoon via a video link from prison.
Glen Gatland, defending Humphrey, told the court: "Sean Humphrey is very sorry for what has happened, he's full of remorse. He accepts full responsibility, that's why there was a guilty plea indicated at the very first opportunity - because he wanted any witness to know that they were not going to have to attend court and give evidence and that is something he's personally expressed in conference."
Mr Gatland told the court how Humphrey previously had a well paid job as a sheet metal worker and would earn between £500 and £700 a week. He said that he lost the position when Covid-19 struck and he had difficulties paying for his outgoings.
His barrister said losing his job also caused problems with his relationship because he was off work and had no money. He said: "That relationship ended and then he resorted to mainly drink but even a little bit of drugs, in relation to the depression that he was suffering. He had suicidal thoughts."
Mr Gatland said that his client committed the offence in order to obtain alcohol which he could not afford. He said he was a man who, through no fault of his own, lost his job, became depressed, started drinking excessively and behaved completely out of character.
Tony Cornberg, defending Padgett, told the court how his client had taken Diazepam prior to the robbery. He said: "This was a plan concocted five minutes before it was carried out. The reason to carry out the offence was to mainly get more Diazepam."
Mr Cornberg said Padgett also lost his job during the pandemic and his grandmother passed away. He told the court: "He describes depression that followed, he ended up being on the sick. He's someone who has been working for 10 years solidly."
His barrister said Padgett ended up living in a hostel, things went downhill and he started drinking alcohol and taking Diazepam.
Recorder Giuliani told the court that believed the face masks were not used by the defendants to protect others from infection but to disguise themselves, along with their hoods which had been pulled up.
He said: "Mr Humphrey you had become effectively addicted to alcohol and consumed vast amounts of alcohol and you, Mr Padgett, you were effectively addicted to Diazepam and consumed large amounts of Diazepam.
"I'm satisfied, from watching the CCTV, that each of you were trying to disguise your appearance. Inside the store were a number of staff and customers, including two young children."
Recorder Giuliani said he accepted they had screwdrivers but said the female member of staff believed that she was being threatened with a knife. He said: "She was clearly frightened and thought that she would be hurt."
He sentenced Humphrey to three years behind bars and Padgett was imprisoned for two years and eight months.
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