A man who robbed a Snax 24 petrol station at knifepoint, kicked a man unconscious just hours later.
Teesside Crown Court was told Richard Boyer was carrying two knives when he entered the Snax 24 petrol station in High Street, Ormesby, Middlesbrough, at around 1.30pm on March 20 this year.
“He placed a sheathed hunting knife on to the sale desk and had a blue handled knife in his hand,” said prosecutor David Crook.
“He demanded money from the till and was given £70.”
When he demanded more cash, he was told the store’s safe worked on a timer, and he then placed a bag on the counter telling the assistant to hand over whisky and cigarettes. He left with the cash, three bottles of whisky and five boxes of cigarettes.
At about 2am the following morning he attacked two men without provocation in Middlesbrough town centre.
He punched and kicked one man in the face, and kicked the other man as he went to his friend’s aid. One of the men was knocked unconscious with a broken nose needing six stitches.
Boyer, who has previous convictions including violence, was later arrested and pleaded guilty to robbery, two counts of having a bladed article, and two of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Duncan McReddie, defending, said: “The offences were committed as Boyer got into a spiral of despair at the loss of his business and the consumption of alcohol and drugs to obliterate that despair.”
He said Boyer was “virtually oblivious to his behaviour through intoxication”.
“While he accepts the conduct attributed to him, he has very little recollection as to what took place. It goes without saying he is sorry for what he has done and properly remorseful.”
Judge Peter Bowers jailed Boyer for three-and-a-half years for the robbery, with an additional six months for the assaults.
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