A shop raider, who left a staff member shocked after brandishing a 14-inch knife before being tackled and restrained, has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Passing the judgement, Judge Kate Rayfield of Hull Crown court said that people who worked in convenience stores are "exposed and vulnerable" and often worked antisocial hours. Unlike big stores, smaller shops often could not afford to pay for security staff and the effect on staff, when they were the victim of robberies, was significant.
Nathan Harrington was a regular customer at Simon's Convenience Store in Hessle Road at Hull. On the day of incident, he went into the shop and pulled out a large knife from his waistband and demanded money, Hull Crown court heard. Staff called for help and that is when a female staff member's son heard the commotion and ran in.
Harrington tried to stab the person who was trying to restrain him but was soon got overpowered by the member of staff, who tied him up after asking his permission to restrain him.
"The member of staff secured the defendant with zip ties, having asked the defendant for permission to do so first," the court heard.
The member of staff had been left shaken up and scared. He is reluctant to come to work as this is not the first time an incident like this has happened to him.
Harrington had convictions for 21 previous offences, including burglary, assault, threatening behaviour, criminal damage, harassment, obstructing police and breaching court orders.
The court also heard that Harrington was suffering from acute anxiety.
"He knows these people. He is a regular at the corner shop. He had been there to buy items earlier in the day. He wanted to go back to prison. It was a cry for help," stated local reports citing Julia Baggs, mitigating.
