Pair behind bars after shoplifting turned violent

TWO robbers who attacked a shopkeeper with a stick he kept to protect himself have been jailed.

Adam Wright, aged 20, and 17-year-old Dean Willock admitted a charge of robbery at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Wright, of Oversley Road, Fegg Hayes, also admitted a charge of theft. He was jailed for two years and eight months while Willock, of Diarmid Road, Hanford, received a three year and eight month sentence in a young offenders' institution.

Yesterday, the court was told Wright and Willock went into the West End News shop in London Road, Stoke, at about 10pm on February 13.

The shopkeeper Vilvarajah Sutharsan knew the defendants as they regularly went into his shop.

Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said: "Wright bought a bottle of cider and stood at the door drinking it. Mr Sutharsan heard him tell Willock to put some bottles in his jacket.

"When Mr Sutharsan approached Willock and asked if he had anything, Willock said no but then two bottles of Lambrini fell from his jacket.

"Willock punched Mr Sutharsan to his face while Wright grabbed bottles and cigarettes from the shelves.

"Mr Sutharsan produced a piece of wood to try and protect himself and he wrestled with Willock before Willock grabbed it and started beating the shopkeeper."

Jason Holt, defending Willock, said: "This was a shoplifting offence gone wrong. There was no intention to rob the victim."

Nicholas Tatlow, defending Wright, said: "This was two drunk and very foolish young men who went into a shop they visited often to buy drink to pass their time."

His Honour Judge Paul Glenn said: "This was an ugly, disgraceful and prolonged incident.

"It seems to me it was a planned theft that went wrong.

"You behaved like yobs."