Violent South Yorkshire thief punched multiple female shopworkers in face - snatching Oreos and “toy eggs”
Kyle Fell, who was noted to be “unwell” and curiously shouted “murderer” while being sentenced
A drug-addled Rotherham thief with a “significant” violent history punched multiple female shopworkers in the face while snatching from shops - making off with random goodies including Oreos and “toy eggs”, a court heard.
Kyle Fell, who was noted to be “unwell” and curiously shouted “murderer” while being sentenced, targeted three stores in the town within in one hour on the morning of May 9 this year.
Alice Ibbotson, prosecuting, told Sheffield Crown Court there were violent clashes with staff outside two of the shops.
Fell, 35, and female co-defendant Gemma Atkin, 36, teamed up on a member of the public who intervened and Atkin pulled a “clump” of hair from a female worker’s scalp.
At 6.40am Fell struck a woman store worker at Co-op on Fenton Road twice to the side of, and spat in, her face when she followed him outside to take back what he had swiped from shelves.
When menace Fell returned 15 minutes later staff barricaded themselves in and he left after destroying a “charity toy dispenser” from which he snaffled two novelty eggs.
At 7.47am he told staff at Tesco Express on Wortley Road “I’m having these” before running off with a box of Oreos and KP nuts worth £29.10.
Raiding Lidl on Masborough Street at 8.10, he and Atkin - both hauling bags of swag - were followed outside by staff.
Atkin gave up her shopping basket but there was a skirmish as staff tried to relieve Fell of £246.78 of clothing and “peppers”.
After Fell struck the woman to the face, mother-of-three Atkin pulled out a “clump” of her hair then both set upon a male passer-by who stepped in to help the store staff. He was kicked, bitten, punched and spat on.
The court heard Fell had 40 convictions for 83 offences while Atkin had 32 for 87. Atkins’ were mainly for dishonesty while Fell had 17 violent offences including robbery and battery.
Rebecca Tanner, representing Fell, said her client was “under the influence of substances” during the spree while Atkins’ barrister Ian West noted she had only one previous violence conviction.
Fell, of Park Mount, and Atkin of West Park Drive, Swallownest, admitted theft and assault.
Recorder Robert West told Fell “the use of teeth” while setting upon the Good Samaritan was “quite frankly despicable”. Jailing him for two years, he said: “It cannot be suspended because you are a risk to the public.”
Turning to Atkin, who he jailed for four months, he said: “It cannot be suspended because you have a poor history of compliance with court orders.”
Both were handed three-year criminal behaviour orders. Fell was banned from the above-mentioned Rotherham stores and entering any store with Atkin.
Atkin was banned from entering any Tesco, Co-op or Heron Foods in Rotherham and specifically Lidl on Masborough Street, as well as being prohibited from entering any shop in the town with Fell.