Chocolate thief used broken bottle to hold up supermarket after preying on Doncaster off-licence

Sane Howarth first tried to steal chocolate bars from Balby Bridge Off Licence, on Littlemoor Lane, Doncaster, on June 19, prosecutor Suzanne Evans said.

Another customer stopped him from fleeing on his bike unless he returned the chocolate, but Howarth came back five minutes later and punched him in the face, and rammed his bike into his hip.

Six days later he came back, but when he was told he was barred, claimed he had coronavirus, and stole more chocolate.

He returned for the third time on June 28, when the customer who originally challenged him was there, and Howarth grabbed a bottle and smashed it, waving it within six inches of the man's stomach.

Armed with the same broken bottle, he entered a supermarket, half an hour later, and demanded money from the cashier.

He chased him behind the counter and threatened to stab him, but the shopkeeper fought him off "bravely" with a pair of scissors and Howarth fled, taking two bottles of vodka.

He was arrested later, trying to sell the vodka. His victims were left “terrified,” the court heard.

Cheryl Dudley, mitigating, said Howarth had struggled with "all aspects of his daily living" mainly because of his lack of accomodation.

"His life has been challenged for some years. He has fallen into drug use. He has been living this dysfunctional lifestyle since he was 14.

"He is rebuilding relationships with family and friends. He has stayed off drugs while in custody."

Howarth, 20, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to battery, affray, possession of an offensive weapon and robbery, on July 28.

Recorder Darren Preston praised the "bravery and public spirit" of the customer who challenged him, but said Howarth's offending was "cynical and nasty."

"These shopkeepers were trying to do their jobs," he said. "They are entitled to be protected from people like you who think they are entitled to whatever you want."

Howarth was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. He will serve up to half of that time in custody and the rest on licence.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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