Robber jailed for three years for threatening staff as he demanded cash and drugs during raid at pharmacy

Callum Exley-McTaggart pulled a hood over his head and put his sleeve across his face when he walked into Cohens, on Carlton Street, Castleford.

Leeds Crown Court heard staff had been getting ready to close up the shop for the evening when Exley-McTaggart knocked on the door shortly before 6pm on October 13 this year.

Brooke Morrison, prosecuting, said a member of staff unlocked the door and he barged in and began demanding money and diazepam.

Another staff member was able to raise the alarm, but not before the till was opened and Exley-McTaggart grabbed a handful of notes.

He then left but was arrested by police a short time later after a staff member followed him.

He managed to take £100 in notes but only £25 was recovered as he dropped most of the cash in the street as he ran.

During an interview with police he denied making threats to staff, and claimed he was so drunk he could not remember carrying out the offence.

The 26-year-old, of Mary Rose Court, Featherstone, pleaded guilty to robbery.

He has 19 convictions for 42 offences, including multiple assaults and shoplifting.

Exley-McTaggart was previously handed a criminal behaviour order (CBO) in an effort to curb his offending.

In the days after the robbery he appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court where he was jailed for six months for other unrelated matters, including shoplifting and assault.

Harry Crowson, mitigating, said: "He has previous convictions but it does not include anything like this. He is quite appalled by his behaviour.

"It's not something he has ever contemplated before."

Mr Crowson said Exley-McTaggart's addiction to drugs has "plagued him for many years", adding: "He went down an unpleasant path which brought him to committing this offence."

The judge, Recorder Ben Nolan QC, told Exley-McTaggart: "It was a very unpleasant offence committed against a pharmacy, which are premises that are always going to be vulnerable."

On top of the three-year jail term, the CBO was varied to include him being banned from entering Cohens Chemist in Castleford.