A robber who left his victim fearing he was going to die after two raids "ransacked" a nursery and stole childrens' iPads.
Peter Bennett, from Walton, was jailed this week after the knife-wielding thug targeted the same convenience store twice within the space of a week. The same terrified employee was on duty alone during both incidents as the 44-year-old stole hundreds of pounds from the till and the staff member later quit his job as he felt unsafe.
The prolific offender has now racked up 52 convictions for 115 offences. One of these saw him jailed in 2017, when Bennett was part of a two-man team who smashed into Rainbow House Nursery - leaving broken glass littering the floor of its toddler room.
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He and his accomplice made off with three tablet computers worth £956 and £80 of iPad covers, as well as causing £90 of damage to the window. Identified via CCTV footage, the addict claimed he had been forced to take part in the break-in by dealers he owed a drug debt to.
The then 39-year-old was jailed for 28 weeks at Liverpool Magistrates' Court after admitting burglary and breaching a suspended sentence imposed for theft the previous year. Five years later, Bennett - of Selina Road - made remarkably similar excuses for his latest crimes.
He targeted the Go Local Extra store in Bootle on two occasions in the space of four days. James Lewis, defending, told the court his client had again stolen the money in order to pay off a drug debt.
Bennett's counsel added: "There is a long-standing history of drug misuse. At this particular time, he had accrued quite a considerable debt with those from whom he bought drugs and needed to pay back.
"He panicked and went to the shop to take the money in a way he shouldn't have, and he expresses remorse for it. He was in desperate circumstances at the time - that doesn't excuse what he's done."
Liverpool Crown Court heard on, Tuesday, that Shiva Barkham was working behind the counter of the Aintree Road convenience store shortly before 11pm on May 11 this year when he heard the front door open. A masked man holding a knife with a "large, serrated blade" then appeared next to him at the till.
Mr Barkham "froze with fear, felt really scared and feared for his life", prosecutor Paul Blasbery said. The robber, again later identified as Bennett via CCTV footage which was played to the court, held the weapon to his face and shouted "give me the money, give me the money".
The 44-year-old then swiped £400 and told the victim "get down on your knees now". As he fled, he added: "Stay there - if you come here I'll put the knife in you, I know where you live."
Then, on May 15, Bennett - of Selina Road in Walton - struck again. He entered the premises at around 8.15pm with another male, who remained near the entrance.
The "very aggressive" defendant again approached the counter and shouted at Mr Barkham to open the till. Bennett then stole a "large bundle of notes" totalling around £350 and left.
A statement read out on Mr Barkham's behalf described how he had been left "petrified" after Bennett threatened to stab him. He added: "I thought I was going to die and I just let him do what he wanted.
"I was frozen with fear. I told my boss I can't work there anymore as I'm too scared - I now work in another shop. I'm still scared in the shop, especially when left alone. I'm continually looking over my shoulder.
"Before these incidents, I was really happy in my work. Now I'm really scared and I don't like going to work, but I have to to support myself and my partner. I want justice for what this man has done to me. He has ruined my working life and it will take a long time to get over this."
Bennett, who appeared via video link to HMP Altcourse, admitted two counts of robbery during a previous hearing. He was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "Mr Barkham was left understandably petrified because of what happened to him on two separate occasions. He was at his place of work and he should have been safe to be there.
"He's now too scared to work in that shop. He says his working life has been ruined.
"You have an appalling antecedent record."
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