A man who robbed a Tyneside supermarket while wearing his face painted as the Batman villain the Joker has been jailed for 40 months. Peter Braithwaite brandished a knife at staff at the Morrisons store in The Viking Centre, Jarrow, and threatened them as he tried to leave without paying for a trolley of groceries.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the incident took place at around 3.15pm on July 8 this year. As Braithwaite appeared to be about to leave without paying, female members of staff approached him and told him he should pay. He responded by saying "speak to your manager" and winking.
Knife threat in the aisles
Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said: "Staff took hold of the trolley and a male security staff member approached him. He produced a folding knife and threatened staff with the six inch blade." Braithwaite was heard making comments such as "do you want to get stabbed" and "do you want to die".
Mr Wardlaw said: "He pointed the knife towards staff causing them to back away." With the victims left in fear, Braithwaite pushed the trolley of groceries out of the shop and to his home nearby. When a neighbour asked what he was doing, he did not reply but "stared wide-eyed" at him. When police arrived, they found the knife and the stolen groceries.
Victim impact
A female member of staff at Morrisons said in a victim impact statement that the robbery had impacted her negatively, causing anxiety and stress, and she now fears having to deal with male shoplifters. She said: "I keep thinking about the moment when the offender with the painted face asked if I wanted it. He looked so frightening, his eyes were bulging. I believed I was going to be stabbed."
She added that she was concerned about the impact on customers, including children, saying: "I felt threatened and I'm sure they did too. The robbery was simply terrifying."
Sentencing
Braithwaite, 31, of Wilkinson Court Tower, Jarrow, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery. Recorder Jamie Hill KC said Braithwaite has mental health issues but added: "On this particular day you were acting to a large extent while high on drink and drugs. This was a terrifying incident, threatening to stab several people who were trying to do their jobs. I'm sure those people who were there at Morrisons will never forget it."
There were four people threatened with the knife and others who would have been afraid of it. It would have been a deeply disturbing event. Robin Turton, defending, said Braithwaite was "in a bad place at the time" but has improved while remanded in custody. He added: "He fully understands how frightening it must have been. He is deeply sorry and ashamed. He has schizophrenia, which is linked to his offending. He is willing and ready to comply with treatment, as he has been in the hospital wing in Durham." The court heard character references from his mum and sister speak well of Braithwaite, who acted out of character.
