'Deranged' South Yorkshire knifeman runs into One Stop shop brandishing blade

Sheffield Crown Court heard on June 30 how Daniel Smith, aged 34, of Tennyson Road, Herringthorpe, Rotherham, ran into the One Stop on Badsley Moor Lane near his home armed with a knife.

Judge Peter Kelson QC told Smith: “This is a very unusual case because a number of people have observed in their own way, plainly, some sort of mental breakdown on your part in committing this offence.”

Gurdial Singh, prosecuting, said the manager was followed into a stock room by Smith and the defendant was seen by a staff member crouching down and looking scared.

Mr Singh added they tried to get Smith to leave and the manager called police because Smith had a kitchen knife and he started waving wine around and said people were after him.

The defendant spoke to police, according to Mr Singh, but went back into the shop and told the manager to lock the door and he became more agitated before handing himself over to police.

Mr Singh added one officer said Smith had a “wide-eyed look” and appeared “deranged”.

Smith told police two males had pulled-up in a vehicle outside his home wanting payment for a drug-debt and he was being chased so he grabbed a knife and hid in the store.

The defendant, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in public and to false imprisonment after the incident in October, 2019. He also admitted breaching a conditional discharge previously imposed for a theft and resisting custody.

He also admitted separate offences including interfering with a vehicle and ten shop thefts and asked for a further three thefts to be taken into consideration.

Amy Earnshaw, defending, said Smith had been having a difficult time and had a large debt due to a drug-addiction and when people came to collect he wanted to protect himself and had no intention to harm anyone.

Judge Peter Kelson QC sentenced Smith, who has already served time remanded in custody, to 16-months of custody suspended for two-years with drug and rehabilitation activity requirements.