Sheffield robber jailed after attacking elderly shopkeeper

Sheffield Crown Court heard on August 3 how Ashley Stocks, aged 31, of Greenwood Avenue, near Handsworth Hill, Sheffield, tried to exchange two bottles of Budweiser before he became aggressive and attacked the shopkeeper at the Hollinsend Premier store, on Nodder Road, Woodthorpe, Sheffield.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said the 64-year-old shopkeeper had refused to change the beers which had been opened and replaced with another liquid and the defendant picked up two boxes of beer, threw one on the floor and refused to leave.

The shopkeeper pressed an emergency button so the defendant threw a box at him which just missed his head and the defendant returned and threw a bottle which narrowly missed the complainant, according to Mr Coxon.

Mr Coxon added: “As he tried to remove the defendant he was punched to the right side of his head and he was dragged outside and the defendant punched him again to his head and he was thrown to the ground.”

The court heard the complainant – whose son owns the store - was taken to hospital with internal bleeding to his head and grazed knees and he needed stitches to his mouth.

Stocks told police he was sorry about the incident which was captured on CCTV and he regarded those at the shop as friends.

The complainant stated he has since suffered with stress, a loss of hearing and he has been left feeling frightened.

Stocks, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the robbery from November 26, 2019.

Ian West, defending, said Stocks claims he was in a bad place and he has no explanation for his actions other than a drug issue.

Judge Rachael Harrison said Stocks had been under the influence of alcohol and had told a doctor he had also been under the influence of drugs.

She told Stocks: “This was a deeply abhorrent offence and - on that video - you were completely out of control.”

Stocks was sentenced to five-years and four-months of custody and banned from going near the Hollinsend store for ten years.