Terrifying hooded Sheffield burglar left shop worker so scared she has given up her job

A terrifying hooded burglar who stole cash from tills and a safe left a shop worker so scared she had to give up her job.
By Jon Cooper
Published 10th Aug 2020, 11:45 BST
Updated 10th Aug 2020, 13:12 BST
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Benjamin Wesson, aged 34, of Leppings Lane, Hillsborough, Sheffield, targeted Bargain Booze, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley, and ordered the shop worker to open tills and take him to the safe, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

Prosecuting barrister Louise Gallagher told the hearing on August 4 how Wesson came into the store about 4.30pm, on July 7, 2019, with a clenched fist and wearing a hooded top over his face before he told the shop keeper to empty tills and lock the door.

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Wesson urged the shop worker to hurry as her hands were shaking, according to Ms Gallagher, and he told her to open two tills and the safe before he fled with cash.

Pictured is the CCTV image South Yorkshire Police released in an effort to track down the burglar who targeted Bargan Booze, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley, on July 7, 2019.Pictured is the CCTV image South Yorkshire Police released in an effort to track down the burglar who targeted Bargan Booze, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley, on July 7, 2019.
Pictured is the CCTV image South Yorkshire Police released in an effort to track down the burglar who targeted Bargan Booze, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley, on July 7, 2019.

In a victim personal statement, the shop worker said she became scared of male customers and could not be left alone because she was scared the man would come back.

Judge Graham Reeds QC said: “The shop worker was so badly affected she could not go back to work for two weeks and so stressful was her return to work she gave up her job of 13 years.”

The court heard Wesson was identified after a CCTV image of the offender was released in an appeal following the burglary on July 7, 2019.

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Wesson, who has 22 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the burglary.

A burglar has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, for three-years after he struck at a Bargain Booze store, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley.A burglar has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, for three-years after he struck at a Bargain Booze store, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley.
A burglar has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, for three-years after he struck at a Bargain Booze store, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley.

He also admitted four thefts including stealing scratch cards from a Jet petrol station on May 16, cash from a Lidl store, on May 20, cash from Iceland Foods, on May 31, and scratch cards from a Co-op, on June 18.

Richard Adams, defending, said: “The defendant has had a problem for some years with class A drugs and some difficulties with prescribed medication, though not prescribed to him, and that has been the motivation behind the offences.”

Mr Adams added Wesson had been addressing his drug problems but many of the support services ceased to operate during the coronavirus lockdown.

Judge Graham Reeds QC, who revealed £2,965 of cash was stolen in the burglary, sentenced Wesson to three-years of custody.