Hammer and knife-wielding thugs given lengthy sentences for Leeds Morrisons hit
Desperate drug addicts pulled out a knife and a hammer to threaten staff at a convenience store into handing over the till takings.
Christopher Boden and Samuel Stewart were both deemed to be a danger to society and handed extended jail sentences with a combined total of more than 16 years.
The pair targeted the Morrisons Daily on South Parkway in Seacroft, and despite their face coverings, were recognised by police from the shop’s CCTV.
Leeds Crown Court heard that 54-year-old Boden went into the shop a week before the robbery and was told to leave because he was a known thief.
He chillingly told staff: “I don’t shoplift, I arm rob.”
Then on November 16 last year, at around 8.15pm, both he and 41-year-old Stewart entered the shop wearing masks and with their hoods up.
Boden took a hammer from his pocket and told staff: “Give me the f****** money.”
Stewart took out a knife and repeated the demand.
They were able to grab £340 and made off, prosecutor Emily Thorbjornsen said.
The next day, officers went to Boden’s address on Foundry Mill Terrace, Seacroft, to arrest him.
They found Stewart inside the property. They also found the brown-handled knife Stewart had in the shop.
Both later admitted the robbery, and possessing the knife and the hammer.
Boden has 26 previous convictions for 44 offences, including thefts from shops and burglaries.
Mitigating, Martin Morrow said Boden, a father of two, only had his guilty pleas as “real mitigation”.
He said the trigger for the robbery was a drug debt he needed to pay off. He said: “He takes full responsibility, he does not seek to minimise or victim blame either.
“He recognises a significant period of custody will follow.”
Meanwhile, ex soldier Stewart, of no fixed address, has 12 previous convictions has 42 offences, including an attempted robbery.
Mitigating, Craig Sutcliffe said Stewart was in the military from 2022 to 2006 and has PTSD.
He said due to his drug habit, he was “cuckooed” - meaning drug dealers had taken over his home and he was forced to leave.
Mr Sutcliffe said since being held in custody, Stewart is now drug-free.
Judge Simon Phillips KC handed Stewart a sentence of eights years and four months, made up of four years and four months’ custody, and a four-year extended licence period.
Boden was given a eight-year sentence, consisting of four years’ jail, with an additional four-year extended licence period.
Stewart was given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to keep him out of the Morrisons store, while Boden was given a five-year restraining order to prevent him from entering the shop.