A would-be robber went on a mostly unsuccessful spree targeting convenience stores in a town, only managing to steal some chocolate from one of the premises.

Steven Michael Gill was said to have fallen into, “a cycle” of serving prison sentences, being released into homelessness, misusing drugs and re-offending.

Durham Crown Court heard that on July 22 this year he entered Mainsforth News, in Ferryhill, carrying a long stick and a light bulb, approaching the till and demanding £140.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the assistant refused the defendant’s demand and so Gill threatened that he would hit him with the light bulb if he did not hand over £40, reducing his demand by £100 within seconds.

(Image: Northumbria Police)

When the shop worker bravely refused the further demand and picked up a piece of wood, Gill retreated and left the shop.

The assistant said children were in the shop at the time and were left frightened at what they had witnessed.

Mr Dryden said Gill turned up at Deanbank Premier Store in Haig Street, Ferryhill, at 7.40pm, also carrying a piece of wood, shouting: “Money, I want money, or I’ll kick your f***ing head in.”

A female customer in the store confronted Gill, taking the piece of wood from him and asking him to leave the premises, ushering him to the door.

The store manager told police he was very shocked at the incident and grateful to the customer for her prompt actions.

Mr Dryden said in between those two attempted robberies Gill had also walked into a Co-op store in Ferryhill, shortly after 7pm, and picked up bars of chocolate, before leaving the premises without offering to pay.

Gill was arrested at 8.15pm and made no reply to police questions.

But, at court, the 41-year-old defendant, of Eccleston Road, South Shields, admitted two counts of attempted robbery and one of theft.

(Image: Northumbria Police)

Mr Dryden said Gill has a record of 37 convictions for 100 offences, mostly for burglary, theft and relevant convictions, including a robbery while carrying an offensive weapon, from 2021.

Cainan Lonsdale, in mitigation, said the defendant has had the good sense to plead guilty, which he previously indicated he would do, sparing any witness the distress of having to give evidence in court at trial.

“By way of background, it’s set against a cycle of homelessness and drug misuse.

“Each time he is released from prison he is homeless and it leads to a rapid pattern of offending and carrying on his drug habit.

“Prior to 2021 he had no cases of violence against him.

“He accepts he made threats with a bladed article during a previous robbery.

“Before that he was a heroin user and the change in his offending has come from him injecting cocaine, something he regrets and, so, he has been working with the drug and alcohol team (DARTS) while on remand in prison.

“He needs to grasp the nettle and tackle his drugs misuse, and he’s already working with the relevant team, having had six meetings with DARTS, while receiving medication for schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.”

Mr Lonsdale added: “He’s, also, already begun two education courses, in English and maths, and making good progress.

“He wishes to break the cycle of rapid offending upon release, and this will be the longest sentence he has served, but he tells me it will be his last.”

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Judge Nathan Adams told the defendant: “Most of your offending has been for trying to acquire property that is not yours.

“Although there was a gap between 2014 and 2021, you resorted to similar offending we see here and you received a 34-month sentence in 2021.

“Your licence period had only just expired when you committed this series of offences.”

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Imposing a four-year prison sentence, Judge Adams told Gill it would have been five-and-a-half years had he not pleaded guilty.

He told Gill he would spend up to half in prison before being released, again, subject to licence conditions.

The judge added: “If you really do want this to be a line in the sand, then I hope you comply with your licence conditions on release from custody.”