A robber pulled out a pair of scissors on an elderly shop worker when he became "confused" about his payment being declined. The victim was working at a shop in Blyth with his wife when John Storey went in just after 8pm on April 28 this year.
Card declined twice
Newcastle Crown Court heard he took a bottle of cider to the counter and tried to pay for it with a bank card but it was declined. Storey said he had paid for the bottle and the victim told him he hadn't and asked him to leave.
He did so but returned 30 minutes later and tried to make the purchase again and the payment was declined once more. On that occasion, he refused to leave and argued with the victim, insisting he had paid and accusing the man of taking his money.
Threat with scissors
He then pulled out a pair of scissors from his pocket, picked up the bottle of cider and went to leave with it. When the shop worker followed to challenge him, Storey pointed the scissors in his direction and told him not to go near him. Fearing he would be stabbed, the victim didn't challenge him further and Storey left with the £5.09 bottle of cider.
In a victim impact statement, he said: "As an elderly man with breathing issues....the stress can make me very poorly. This scared me a lot."
"I didn't expect to have a pair of scissors pulled on me and to be threatened with them. I was scared for my safety and my wife's safety - this man could have harmed both of us. I don't think I could have fought him off had he attacked me."
Sentencing and background
Storey, 37, of no fixed address, who has 46 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a bladed article. He was jailed for 28 months and given a five-year restraining order.
Brian Hegarty, defending, said Storey was "confused" because he knew he had enough money to pay for the cider and he thought the money had been paid and the worker was refusing to hand over the bottle. Mr Hegarty said his finances are managed by the local authority and he shares a payment card with others and believes the card may have been suspended due to the actions of others.
Mr Hegarty added: "There was no gratuitous use or threat of violence." The court heard Storey is vulnerable and has a history of mental illness which has resulted in him spending periods in a psychiatric hospital and he has a mild learning disability, emotionally unstable personality disorder and difficulties with cognitive functioning.
