A Newcastle man has avoided jail after robbing a shop and assaulting a worker over £20
Newcastle: A guy named Colin Armstrong, 56, walked into a shop and caused quite a scene. He asked the worker to top up his gas or electricity, but when she said the machine was down, he got aggressive.
He demanded £20, threatening to take whatever he wanted. Things escalated quickly. He grabbed some iPhone chargers and tried to leave. The worker tried to stop him, but he pushed her and hit her twice in the face.
It was all caught on CCTV, and the poor woman was understandably shaken. She said she still feels scared after the incident. The court heard that Armstrong was going through a tough time but was working on his mental health.
During sentencing, the judge made it clear that his behavior was unacceptable. Armstrong has a long history of offenses, but instead of jail, he got a suspended sentence. He’ll have to wear an electronic tag and do some rehabilitation work.
It’s a reminder that crime doesn’t pay, and there are consequences, even if they’re not behind bars. If he messes up again, he could end up serving time. Let’s hope he gets the help he needs.
