Semi-naked Shrewsbury man forced Aldi staff to hide as he brandished knife and threw bread around
Richard Evans entered the supermarket in Thrower Road in March this year.
A Shrewsbury man who forced staff members at an Aldi store in the town to barricade themselves into the store office as he threw bread around while brandishing a knife and wearing no trousers has been spared jail.
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Richard Evans, aged 39, from Murrell Way, had entered the supermarket in Oteley Road at 11am on Saturday, March 21 this year, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard on Thursday,
Mr Richard Davenport, prosecuting, said that a shopper in the store said that he saw Evans, “wearing no trousers, just a top and underwear” while “throwing bread around in the aisle”.
Mr Davenport said that a worker, returning from a break, spotted Evans’ antics in the bread aisle and called 999 and followed him out of the store to guide police to Evans’ whereabouts.
But he said Evans turned around and headed back to the store, brandishing a large knife.
This caused the employee to head back to the store with Evans, brandishing the knife, following.
Concerned about their safety, Mr Davenport said members of the public and staff at the supermarket locked themselves into the store office when Evans re-entered with the knife.
He said Evans tried to get into the store room, but failed, and eventually left the store and was soon picked up by police.
He added that the 39-year-old, who had pleaded guilty to the single charge of being in possession of a bladed article, had been convicted of carrying a blade before and was on a community order when the offence in Aldi occurred.
Judge Julian Taylor said: “The public were no doubt fearful especially with recent reports in the media concerning knives.
“It was quite a substantial knife, I’ve seen it, but you do need some assistance.”
He said he noted that the defendant had “mental health difficulties” and problems with drink and drugs.
“There was obviously some drug or drink element as you were not dressed. But this went on for some time with lots of people involved,” said the judge.
He sentenced Evans to 12 months but suspended the jail term for two years, adding that Evans would have to take part in a six-month drug and drink rehabilitation programme as well as undertake 15 days of rehabilitation work with the probation service.
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