Robber armed with meat cleaver jailed for terrorising Westbourne village
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Samuel Hewett, of Renown Gardens, Wecock Farm, admitted robbery and three burglaries at Portsmouth Crown Court with his crimes spanning from September 2019 to May this year.
His most serious crime took place on May 24 when wearing a balaclava he entered Westbourne’s Co-operative store at 6.25pm with a meat cleaver in hand, demanding the till to be opened.
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Hide AdHewett, who was addicted to crack cocaine, stole £400 from two tills while breaching his bail, lockdown rules and a conditional discharge from 2019. He later handed himself into police.
The shop assistant victim, in a statement read by prosecutor Anthony Waller, said: ‘It was terrifying.’
The 31-year-old defendant started his series of crimes by burgling Whistler’s Fish and Chip Shop, Westbourne, on September 26 where he stole £1,900 from a safe, £500 from the till and charity box money.
He also burgled Westbourne Beauty Clinic and Jim’s Barber Shop, in Havant, stealing equipment including straighteners.
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Hide AdEmma Dorey, manager of Whistler’s Fish and Chip Shop, said – in her victim impact statement – that the burglary at the premises last September was a huge blow to the small business, which had to replace all security equipment.
She said: ‘This crime has had an impact on me and my staff. I am often here alone and late at night into early hours of the morning. It’s scary now and I fear to be there alone.’
Speaking to The News after the case, Emma added: ‘We’re really happy he’s gone to jail. It was quite scary finding out who it was because he used to be a regular customer and all the staff here have served him before.
‘When it happened, we were all shaken. We didn’t really want to leave the shop late at night or work here on our own but now we know it’s secure.’
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Hide AdSentencing, judge William Ashworth said: ‘Out of all of the crimes, the robbery is the most serious. However, separately, the burglaries have also caused stress and anxiety.
‘If you hadn’t been stopped, we don’t know where this would have gone.’
Hewett was handed a four-year custodial sentence for the robbery, as well as 12 months for the burglaries, which will be served consecutively.
Mitigating, defence barrister Philip Allman said during his time in custody, Hewett had studied and completed 11 educational courses and made it clear that he wanted to change his ways.
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Hide AdMr Allman said: ‘He does want to address his offending behaviours and put his criminal past behind him.’