Knife robber who threatened Shrewsbury shop worker jailed for three years
A man who robbed a post office, threatening a shop worker with a kitchen knife, has been jailed for three years.
Alexander Lyon grabbed money from the till of the shop in Mount Pleasant, Shrewsbury, after pulling the knife on the 60-year old assistant, who has since been unable to work in the shop on her own.
The 23-year-old, who had been sleeping rough, spent the money on drugs, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
Lyon, who had no fixed address, was given the three year sentence for robbery, possessing a bladed article and for the possession of drugs, yesterday. He had admitted the offences.
Judge Peter Barrie said he would have to serve half his sentence before release on licence.
"You frightened the life out of your victim," he said "This shows what dreadful things drug taking can do to someone."
Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the offences happened on March 3.
Lyon went into the premises with a scarf around his face and pulled out what the shop assistant thought was a screwdriver.
However when arrested Lyon was found to be be in possession of two kitchen knives, Mr Jones said. He grabbed money from the till and left.
"Police saw the offender getting into a taxi in the Old Heath area. They stopped the taxi, searched Lloyd and found one knife in his pocket, another in his rucksack," said Mr Jones.
He also had five wraps of heroin and two of cocaine in his possession. He later said he had bought the drugs for £70 with the money he had stolen.
In a victim impact statement the woman said the incident had left her terrified.
"I almost had a heart attack," she said.
"I don't feel safe in the shop any more."
Mr Jones said the woman had lost her husband and then, five years ago, her son died.
"She said she felt like she did when her son passed away," he said.
"She has to have someone else in the shop now when she is working."
Mr Andrew Holland, for Lyon, said his client had written a letter of apology to the injured party.
He said Lyon had had a traumatic childhood which had led him to start taking drugs at the age of 12 as a coping mechanism.
"Three years ago he got help and manged to get off drugs but his lifestyle – sleeping rough – prevented him from staying off them alongside his failed attempt to have contact with his young son."
