Judge warns violent Doncaster thief he faces prison if he fails to mend his ways

Ethan Richards, aged 22, originally from Wright Gardens, Walkeringham, Doncaster, stole beer from Epworth Convenience Store, on High Street, Epworth, before returning and attacking the shopkeeper during a dispute, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

David McKay, prosecuting, told the hearing on November 26 that Richards stole beer from the store on October 10, 2019, and returned about ten minutes later and ended-up in a confrontation with the shopkeeper.

Richards behaved in a threatening manner, accordng to Mr McKay, before grappling with the shopkeeper and striking him to the head and kicking him on an ankle and when the shopkeeper went looking for his keys afterwards the defendant threatened him again.

Richards admitted to police he had stolen some beer and claimed the shopkeeper had been abusive.

The defendant, who has previous convictions for theft and disorder matters, pleaded guilty to the theft and to affray.

Lisa Hardy, defending, said Richards whose mother is deceased has had a difficult life and Judge Jeremy Richardson QC acknwoldeged that the defendant has been living with “family turmoil”.

Judge Richardson told Richards: “I am giving you a lifeline at the moment because I think there is some prospect of hope if you can stop drinking and get your life in some semblance of order and start behaving yourself because you are a young man and no longer a boy.”

He added: “I truly am giving you a lifeline and you must grab it with both hands and if you don’t you will be back in this court before me and I will send you to prison.”

Richards was sentenced to six months of custody suspended for two years with 200 hours of unpaid work, an Alcohol Treatment Requrement and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

Judge Richardson also told Richards he will need to come back to court on February 26 so the judge can personally review the defendant’s progress.

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