A teenage store robber has been spared an immediate prison sentence due to his age at the time and the length of time since the offence took place.

Patrick Stokes admitted committing the robbery, at the Easington Colliery branch of the Co-op, when he appeared at Durham Crown Court earlier this week, having been arrested on a bench warrant after failing to attend a previous pleas hearing, on July 12.

Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, said the offence dates back to November 2, 2020, when Stokes was with another man who was carrying flowers at the Seaside Lane premises, at 12.50pm.

A store assistant suspected they had taken pre-packed sandwiches and tapped Stokes on the shoulder saying she hoped they intended to pay for them.

But Stokes turned and told her: “Don’t f***ing touch me”, before grabbing her by the throat, pushing her into a display fridge door, causing her some discomfort and pain to the shoulder.

Police were called and Stokes was identified on cctv footage from the store.

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Officers went to an address where he was present later that day and, in a search oi a van outside, five bunches of flowers and two sandwich packs were found.

Mr Finlay said Stokes made no reply to questions at the time, but proceedings were not commenced in the case until March this year, more than 17 months after the offence.

The hearing was told in the intervening period he has appeared in court in Scotland for shoplifting and public order offences.

But Mr Finlay said at the time of the Co-op robbery the defendant, now 18, was a youth, only aged 16, and the court heard he has since moved to an address in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

Judge James Adkin told Stokes’ counsel, Tony Davis, that bearing in mind the defendant was only 16 at the time of the robbery, and because of the length of time since the offence, he would suspend the 15-month prison sentence for two years.

But he was also ordered to perform 180-hours’ unpaid work which will have to be completed in the Northern Ireland jurisdiction.

Read next:

Leeds man admits burglary at County Durham cash and carry warehouse

County Durham defendant risked activating suspended sentence order with thefts late last year

County Durham man returned home to discover burglary

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