A man who stole a basket of wine from a shop in Ryton and then repeatedly struck a store worker with a tree branch has been jailed for two years and eight months.
Kevin Dickinson, 41, of Highshaw, Hexham, pleaded guilty to robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a bladed article at Newcastle Crown Court.
The incident happened at One Stop in Ryton on April 19. Dickinson walked into the store at around 9.20am and left with a basket filled with wine worth £95. The deputy store manager followed him and challenged him outside, leading to what the prosecution described as “pushing and shoving” before the worker managed to grab the wine back.
Branch attack and arrest
After regaining the wine, Dickinson picked up a piece of tree branch from the floor, a few feet long and thick, and struck the deputy manager with it. The worker suffered cuts and bruises to his hand and arm, and noticed bleeding and dizziness before returning to the shop.
Police were called and later found Dickinson hiding in bushes, in possession of a knife. Ian Windridge, prosecuting, said the assault with the branch was separate to the robbery because Dickinson had already recovered the wine through the initial confrontation.
Court sentencing
Jason Smith, defending, said Dickinson had a history of taking heroin and was on a methadone script at the time. He said Dickinson was emotionally affected by the anniversary of his father's death and had shown significant remorse. The court heard he was in a long-term relationship and had a 19-month-old son.
Judge Robert Spragg said: “You went into this shop to steal and the theft was brazen and gratuitous. You clearly expected to walk out with the basket of wine you had stolen. [The victim] would not let you get away with that and your response was to strike him repeatedly using a branch as a weapon.”
