Masked thief armed with knife targeted two Morley newsagents in five-minute robbery spree

A masked robber has been jailed after targeting two Leeds newsagents within five minutes of each other.

Stephen Pickersgill, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to offences of robbery, attempted robbery and two assaults on emergency workers.

Prosecutor Bashir Ahmed told the court how at 7.15am on February 8 this year, Pickersgill parked up outside Fountain Street newsagents in Morley before entering the shop wearing a balaclava and brandishing a knife.

Once inside, Mr Ahmed told the court how the 33-year-old began making demands for money and warned the owner and a member of staff “one of you is getting jumped in a minute, don’t make me do it.”

Despite being told there was no cash as the shop had just opened, Pickersgill dragged the staffer to the till and forced him to open it. He made off with £300 of cigarettes and tobacco. The entire incident was captured by the shop’s CCTV, Mr Ahmed said.

He told the court how five minutes later, the defendant entered the Premier newsagents on Gillroyd Terrace, Morley and after originally concealing the knife behind his back began making similar demands for cash from the owner.

Pickersgill grabbed the shop owner after he attempted to run for a panic button, but left without taking anything after the owner began throwing objects at him. He was arrested the next day after filling his vehicle with fuel at a nearby petrol station, Mr Ahmed said.

Upon being arrested, the court heard how the 33-year-old told officers he had swallowed two wraps of cocaine and was taken to Leeds General Infirmary. Once there, he became aggressive, ranting and swinging his arms about. He attempted to headbutt one officer and used homophobic language.

Injury was caused to the second officer’s back and Mr Ahmed detailed how the officer had been left bedbound for days and was unable to carry out planned overtime, putting a strain on her financially. She has suffered many sleepless nights and has been left “anxious and drained” by the incident.

The shop owners were described as being left “deeply upset” and “frustrated” by the incident, the court heard.

In mitigation, defence counsel Rhianydd Clement told the court her client was “deeply ashamed” of his behaviour and wished to apologise to all those involved in the incident.

She said the defendant, who has 26 convictions from 32 previous offences, has long suffered with his mental health after a “difficult childhood,” and had taken drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, as a coping mechanism. He is now clean and takes weekly tests in prison.

Ms Clement also detailed to the court how the defendant had suffered from “nightmares and visual hallucinations,” following the death of his father from cancer in 2022.

Before passing sentence, Judge Penelope Belcher remarked that while Pickersgill had “clearly made positive steps in custody” it didn’t excuse his behaviour. She rejected the defence’s motion that his actions were a “cry for help” as he committed the second robbery attempt within five minutes of the first.

She sentenced him to five years in prison, of which he will serve half.