A chocolate thief punched a shop worker in the face during a robbery before threatening another worker whilst covered in blood.
Jack Cliff carried out a robbery at a store in South Shields and attacked a staff member before walking out with a box full of Twix bars. He also caused damage to the door of the shop before walking to another a short distance away and threatening to "mangle" a member of staff. The 26-year-old then left with a box of Mars Bars.
Cliff, of no fixed address, appeared at Newcastle's Moot Hall via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for robbery, theft and criminal damage. The offences were carried out on November 7 2021.
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The court heard that Cliff carried out the robbery at Westoe News on Westoe Road shortly before 8pm as a man worked alone in the shop. Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said: "The defendant started picking up bars of chocolate and putting them in a bag, stating 'I want chocolate, if you don't give me any I'll punch your face in'".
Cliff then punched the staff member in the face and was "flailing" towards him. Mr Ahmad said the shop worker had boxing experience and began to fight back and the pair "grappled". He said: "The defendant picked up a glass bottle and tried to strike him but missed."
Cliff was then thrown out of the shop, but he threw a rock at the glass panels of the door causing them to smash. He returned a short while later demanding his backpack, which he'd left behind. The court heard he had managed to take a box of Twix bars during the robbery.
Covered in blood, Cliff then walked into a nearby Best One shop and picked up a box of Mars Bars. Mr Ahmad said: "The defendant said, 'don't try and stop me, I'll mangle you. I've just mangled a guy down the road and I'll mangle you as well'". The court heard Cliff was chased out of the shop and was later identified from CCTV. He was arrested in January 2022.
Tabitha Buck, defending, said Cliff was of good character at the time of the offending and had began using drugs after sustaining "trauma" as a child. She said: "The offences are linked to drug misuse." She added that Cliff had detoxed whilst in prison and had recently provided a clean drug test.
Recorder Khan jailed Cliff for 18 months.
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