'I'm going to stab you' - Thug 'armed with screwdriver' threatens petrified Sheffield pharmacy staff member

An armed thug has been put behind bars after he threatened a “petrified” staff member at a pharmacy with what was believed to have been a screwdriver.
By Jon Cooper
Published 12th May 2020, 16:33 BST
Updated 22nd May 2020, 10:42 BST
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on May 11 how Gary Cartlidge, aged 48, of Martin Street, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, had been waiting at the Wicker Pharmacy, in Sheffield, when he lost his temper and threw a chair and threatened to stab one of the staff members.

Judge Peter Kelson QC told Cartlidge: “For a period of minutes you pursued one particular member of staff around and around within that shop. She is seen going around an area and coming back with you pushing this screwdriver towards her and she is backing off.

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“She said it never made actual physical contact with her but also said that at its closest it was one centimetre from her face and you were saying things like, ‘I’m going to stab you and I don’t care if I am arrested’, and she said in her Victim Personal Statement that she was absolutely petrified.”

Pictured, courtesy of Google Maps, is the Wicker Pharmacy, in Sheffield, where an armed thug threatened a staff member.Pictured, courtesy of Google Maps, is the Wicker Pharmacy, in Sheffield, where an armed thug threatened a staff member.
Pictured, courtesy of Google Maps, is the Wicker Pharmacy, in Sheffield, where an armed thug threatened a staff member.

Cartlidge pleaded guilty to causing damage to shop fittings with the chair and he admitted threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place.

Judge Kelson stated the weapon was believed to have been a screwdriver after witnesses reported seeing one during the incident on January 24.

Michael Cane-Soothill, defending, said: “It was a consequence of his mental health. He had been sat there for hours since 5.30pm and it’s clear he was ruminating about things and getting the wrong end of the stick thinking people were laughing at him.”

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Mr Cane-Soothill added: “His view is that it is not the way he normally behaves and it must have been something to do with his anxiety and depression that made him behave the way he did that day and fortunately no one was injured.”

Gary Cartlidge, aged 48, of Martin Street, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, for 12 months after he admitted causing damage and threatening a woman with an offensive weapon at the Wicker Pharmacy, in Sheffield.Gary Cartlidge, aged 48, of Martin Street, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, for 12 months after he admitted causing damage and threatening a woman with an offensive weapon at the Wicker Pharmacy, in Sheffield.
Gary Cartlidge, aged 48, of Martin Street, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, for 12 months after he admitted causing damage and threatening a woman with an offensive weapon at the Wicker Pharmacy, in Sheffield.

Cartlidge who was known to the staff had previously been in the pharmacy many times without causing any trouble, according to Mr Cane-Soothill, and after the incident he returned the next day to apologise.

Judge Kelson sentenced Cartlidge to 12 months of custody. Cartlidge was also given a five-year restraining order to keep away from the Wicker Pharmacy.