Banbury – Armed robbers threatened shop worker and empty till

Henry Williams, of Orchard Way, Banbury, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, March 26.

The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, committed on New Year’s Eve last year at the Quick Stop, in Warwick Road, Banbury.

The court heard that Williams, and an unidentified man, entered the shop just before 8am on the day in question.

Williams was wearing a camouflaged jacket and holding a crowbar. His accomplice was holding a kitchen knife.

Alexandra Bushell, prosecuting, told the court the pair forced shop worker Gurpreet Singh behind the till while they emptied it of cash.

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Henry Williams (Image: TVP)

They also made him fill bags with tobacco and cigarettes.

The court heard they were in and out of the shop in around three minutes. The total value of the items taken was £5,861.91.

A victim impact statement was read out on behalf of the shop’s owner, whose name was not read out in court.

The statement said: “I would like to highlight that this is the third time my shop has been robbed by armed men.

“This loss has had a huge impact on me. These robbers affect the reputation of my shop. Members of the public think it’s dangerous.

“These robbers have caused me a huge amount of stress. I’m worried someone will rob me and I feel vulnerable and unsafe.

“This robbery has been the most violent.”

The court was shown CCTV footage from inside the shop at the time of the robbery. It showed the two men forcing Mr Singh behind the till and emptying cash into bags.

Williams could be seen hitting his crowbar against a table and the other man could be seen with a large knife.

The court heard that Williams had seven previous convictions for 10 offences.

Peter Due Feu, mitigating, said: “It seems as though he has spent the last six years out of trouble. He left the Banbury area.

“To mask himself up and commit the robbery, why on earth would he do that?

“Crack cocaine creates a madness to feed the habit. His intention is to stay clean of drugs.”

The Judge, Mrs Recorder Eleanor Sanderson, said: “This was a robbery of a local convenience store.

“The show owner has said he feels vulnerable and unsafe. It has caused him great worry about his finances.

“This was an appalling act. A vulnerable person was subject to a terrifying robbery.”

Williams was jailed for a total of 42 months.