Below are some of the more serious cases dealt with at Sheffield Crown Court this year involving defendants who used a range of weapons including knives, a shotgun, imitation firearms, a hammer and even a bamboo cane.
In many instances, the victims were so scared they feared they were going to be seriously hurt or even killed and some have been left traumatised.
Offenders have used weapons in armed robberies or to simply threaten individuals and in one case a defendant shot a man in the leg after they had fallen out.
One knife-wielding defendant threatened a man who was sitting outside a Co-op store as shocked people looked on.
However, judges have punished these offenders appropriately with custodial sentences of varying lengths.
Offenders have used weapons in armed robberies or to simply threaten individuals and in one case a defendant shot a man in the leg after they had fallen out.