Terrifying hooded Sheffield burglar left shop worker so scared she has given up her job
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Benjamin Wesson, aged 34, of Leppings Lane, Hillsborough, Sheffield, targeted Bargain Booze, on King Street, in Hoyland, Barnsley, and ordered the shop worker to open tills and take him to the safe, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.
Prosecuting barrister Louise Gallagher told the hearing on August 4 how Wesson came into the store about 4.30pm, on July 7, 2019, with a clenched fist and wearing a hooded top over his face before he told the shop keeper to empty tills and lock the door.
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Hide AdWesson urged the shop worker to hurry as her hands were shaking, according to Ms Gallagher, and he told her to open two tills and the safe before he fled with cash.
In a victim personal statement, the shop worker said she became scared of male customers and could not be left alone because she was scared the man would come back.
Judge Graham Reeds QC said: “The shop worker was so badly affected she could not go back to work for two weeks and so stressful was her return to work she gave up her job of 13 years.”
The court heard Wesson was identified after a CCTV image of the offender was released in an appeal following the burglary on July 7, 2019.
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Hide AdWesson, who has 22 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the burglary.
He also admitted four thefts including stealing scratch cards from a Jet petrol station on May 16, cash from a Lidl store, on May 20, cash from Iceland Foods, on May 31, and scratch cards from a Co-op, on June 18.
Richard Adams, defending, said: “The defendant has had a problem for some years with class A drugs and some difficulties with prescribed medication, though not prescribed to him, and that has been the motivation behind the offences.”
Mr Adams added Wesson had been addressing his drug problems but many of the support services ceased to operate during the coronavirus lockdown.
Judge Graham Reeds QC, who revealed £2,965 of cash was stolen in the burglary, sentenced Wesson to three-years of custody.