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.
9. Michael Jankowski
Pictured is Michael Jankowski, aged 23 when sentenced, of Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield, who pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and to two counts of possessing a knife after he was involved in two armed robberies at a shop and a hairdessing salon in Sheffield in March. He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court in June to three years and four months of custody. Photo: South Yorkshire Police
10. Daniel Cummins
Pictured is knife-wielding robber Daniel Cummins who was given an 18-year prison sentence after he climbed into a woman’s home. Sheffield Crown Court heard in June how Cummins, aged 36 when sentenced, of St Helen’s Street, Elsecar, Barnsley, shinned up a pipe on a house in Barnsley in the middle of the night and went into the victim’s bedroom. The court heard he punched and slashed at his victim with a knife before stealing her mobile phone. Cummins, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and unlawful wounding but after a previous trial he was acquitted of sexual assault and trespassing with intent to commit a sexual assault. Judge Sarah Wright defined Cummins as dangerous before sentencing him to 18-years of custody. Photo: South Yorkshire Police