Co-op employee’s quick action led to police arresting robber

Thomas Hugh Robinson was wearing a balaclava and was wearing a jacket with the hood up in a bid to disguise himself as he used  a hammer to force the employee to open two tills and hand over money, York Crown Court heard.

But as the 28-year-old robber left the Co-op, the shopworker was already contacting his colleagues and police were immediately alerted, said Kelly Clarke, prosecuting.

Less than an hour after the robbery, police were at the robber’s home, an officer having identified Robinson from the shop’s CCTV despite his attempt to disguise himself.

He had walked into the shop at 7.50pm on February 8 and police arrested him at 8.47pm.  In a kitchen drawer they found £215 in £5 and £10 notes taken from the shop, said Ms Clarke.

Today Robinson, who lives 10 minutes’ walk from the shop in Coggan Close, South Bank, York, is starting more than five years in jail and the £215 has been confiscated.

In his personal statement, the victim said: “On the night of the robbery, there was too much adrenaline to think about what happened.

It was a first for me, I’ve never had anything like this happen before.

“I was in shock and numb to what had happened, but in the back of my mind I knew the incident was really going to impact me.”

He said as he gave his witness statement to police “on the surface I was acting normal, but underneath I could feel the panic was setting in, asking myself what just happened and why did it happen to me.”

After Robinson was sentenced Detective Constable Alex Dorlin, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Robinson subjected a member of staff who was simply doing his job to a terrifying ordeal.

“No one comes to work expecting to be threatened with a hammer.

“This case is a clear example of how – quite apart from the financial loss to businesses – the long-term emotional impact of retail crime can be devastating.

“An immediate and effective response by officers to the report meant we had the evidence we needed to secure a conviction, and ensure Robinson faces the consequences of his actions.”

Robinson didn’t answer police questions on the day he was arrested, February 8, and was released on bail.

When response officer PC Sophie Riley, went with other officers to Robinson’s home on February 8, they found clothing that matched that worn by the robber seen in the CCTV footage.

The shop employee gave officers the jacket he was wearing at the time of the robbery and they sent it to forensic scientists who found Robinson’s DNA on its sleeve. 

York Crown Court heard he had dragged the employee into the cashier’s booth.

Robinson was rearrested on April 24 and again refused to answer police questions. He was charged and has been in custody ever since.