A shop worker started sleepwalking after a customer approached the till under the guise of buying chocolate before robbing her at knifepoint.
On one occasion, Gary Simpson's victim even woke her daughter in the middle of the night and made her breakfast while sleeping. His attack came only hours after he had targeted a man whose beloved dog was about to be put down in a heartless theft.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this week that Lee Ryder used an ATM at the Co-op on Orford Lane in Warrington to withdrawn £200 at around 10am on August 27 this year as he "needed the money to have his dog put to sleep". Peter Killen, prosecuting, described how Simpson tailed him out of the shop then took the cash out of his hand as he walked past him.
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The distraught pet owner had to return to withdraw further monies and was forced to borrow money from his brother in order to pay the vet. Mr Ryder said he "didn't even see the man because it happened so quickly".
In a statement read out to the court on his behalf, he reported that he had been "very close to the dog and had had it a long time". He is now "constantly looking over his shoulder" when using cashpoints.
At 6pm the same day, Clare Dodd was working on the till at the nearby Heron Foods store on the same road when Simpson appeared holding a packet of Poppets which he seemed to be wishing to purchase. Instead the 37-year-old shoved her over, at which point she saw that he was brandishing a knife with a curved blade of around five inches in length.
The dad told her to "move now" before emptying the register, which had around £50 of cash in it. Ms Dodd was left "fearing for her life" and retreated to find her manager near the rear of the shop.
CCTV footage of this incident was played to court. A statement read on behalf of the second complainant outlined how she had begun sleepwalking in the aftermath of the attack.
On one occasion, Ms Dodd even woke her daughter "in the middle of the night", went downstairs and gave the youngster her breakfast while asleep. Other times, she would discover items misplaced or cupboards left open.
Simpson - of Station Road South in Padgate - has 32 prior convictions dating back to 2004, being jailed for 20 months for robbery in 2007 before being convicted of the same offence again in 2011. He was also previously locked up for being concerned in the supply of drugs.
Phillip Tully, defending, said the incidents were "set against the background of drug misuse" and that his client had racked up debts with dealers after his "addiction got out of control". He added: "He was unable to repay any debts, and Mr Simpson says he was threatened.
"In late July, he actually rang the police to tell them he was under threat from a drug dealer. He accepts that these offences would have been highly unpleasant.
"He is a man who wants to change and put the offending behind him, and wants to use the time in prison to become drug-free. There is a different side to Mr Simpson.
"He is a man who had had a very difficult upbringing, which he is still trying to deal with. He accepts that what he did was wrong and that he deserves to be punished."
Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool on Thursday, Simpson admitted robbery, theft and possession of a bladed article in a public place and was handed a sentence of 56 months. He was also told to pay a victim surcharge.
Judge Clement Goldstone KC said of the theft: "It was money he could ill afford to spend in any event. The loss of his money, in these circumstances, heightened his feelings of sadness.
"You weren't done for the day. You waited until a previous customer had left the area.
"You were seen to walk around the shop several times, waiting for your opportunity. The offences are aggravated by your previous convictions and the vulnerability of Ms Dodd, who to your knowledge was working alone.
"That was no doubt a significant factor in your decision to rob the till at that time. I accept your remorse is genuine and you have some insight into your offending.
"I accept the background of drug dependency and your inability to pay debts led to you committing these offences. But I am afraid those who get into debt from buying or not paying for drugs cannot solve their financial difficulties by stealing from or robbing people, let alone at knifepoint.
"The threats and pressure you were under may explain your conduct, but it cannot and does not excuse it."
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