Police release picture of a South Yorkshire thief who attacked a 61-year-old shopkeeper

Sheffield Crown Court heard on February 12 how Kurt Waters, aged 25, of Hague Avenue, at Rawmarsh, Rotherham, struck at a shop on Victoria Street, Rotherham, on January 19, 2020.

Jessica Randell, prosecuting, said the defendant entered the store and took cans of beer and cigarettes and threw some coins at the counter before fleeing with the beers in a carrier bag.

But the 61-year-old shopkeeper grabbed the defendant, according to Ms Randell, and there was a scuffle on the floor and the shopkeeper was punched and struck in the face with a can of beer.

Judge Sarah Wright told Waters: “You stole beer and cigarettes from a 61-year-old shopkeeper and then violently assaulted him when he tried to retrieve those goods.”

CCTV footage was shown to the court and Waters could be seen raining blows down upon the complainant while he was on the floor during an awful struggle near the doorway to the shop.

Waters also threw a can as he ran from the shop, according to Ms Randell, and this hit the shopkeeper on the head.

The defendant, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the theft, to an unlawful wounding offence and to failing to surrender to bail.

Waters told police he had not been sleeping at the time of the offences and he had been using crack-cocaine and taking tablets.

But Laura Marshall, defending, said: “He wants to offer an apology to the complainant and he does not seek to try and justify his behaviour in any way, shape or form because he knows it cannot be justified.”

She added that the defendant has suffered a trauma in his life and he turned to using illicit substances to self-medicate and he became addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Waters has undergone detoxification while he has been remanded in custody, according to Ms Marshall, and he understands it is time to address his issues and lead a law-abiding lifestyle.

Judge Wright sentenced Waters to 25 months of custody.

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