A BARNSLEY man who stabbed a woman with a needle when she tried to stop him leaving a shop with stolen goods has been jailed.
Robert Leverton, 30, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court earlier this week for the robbery of a woman.
On June 9 2024, Leverton entered a shop on Sackville Street, Barnsley, where he stole items worth around £42 and stabbed a 24-year-old woman with a needle as she tried to stop him leaving with the goods.
Fortunately, the woman was not seriously injured as a result of the attack.
Leverton was arrested on suspicion of robbery by officers on 12 June and at a police interview that same day, he denied the offence.
When officers presented Leverton with CCTV footage of him at the shop, he denied that it was him but could not explain how the victim knew his name and was able to describe his appearance, down to a tattoo on his neck.
Leverton also stated that it was a coincidence that he was wearing very similar clothing when he was arrested to that shown in the CCTV footage.
Despite his denials, Leverton pleaded guilty to robbery at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday (January 28) and was sentenced the same day to six years and 10 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £228.
Detective Constable Charlie Foye said: “Leverton is a prolific offender and I am glad to see him receive a lengthy sentence for his disgusting crime.
“This case goes to show that shoplifting is far from a victimless crime, as innocent people are often hurt or threatened as offenders attempt to make off with stolen goods.
“I hope that Leverton will consider whether it was worth stealing £42 worth of items now that he will spend more than half a decade behind bars, and I hope he will make better choices when he is eventually released.”
