Serial criminal brandished axe during fabric softener robbery
A serial criminal who brandished an axe at a shop worker who tried to stop him stealing fabric softener has been put behind bars.
Charles Moore, who has 205 convictions on his record, had been in the Boyes store in Blyth, Northumberland on September 18 and left without paying for two bottles of laundry conditioner, worth £4.99 each.
Newcastle Crown Court heard he returned to the same shop the following day and picked up another two bottles, as well as an axe, then headed for the front door.
When a worker saw what was happening again she told Moore he had to pay and was not allowed to steal. In response, Moore brandished the axe and then left.
Judge Carolyn Scott told Moore: "She wasn't aware when she confronted you that you had an axe in your hand.
"She describes you spinning around to face her and you were brandishing the axe.
"Having seen that she said to you 'no problem, just take it'.
"She said in a victim personal statement had she been aware you were holding it she would not have confronted you."
Moore, 43, of Twentythird Avenue, Blyth, admitted theft, robbery and having a bladed article and has been jailed for 30 months.
Helen Towers, defending, said the robbery was "shoplifting gone wrong" and added that Moore developed an addiction to pain medication after he lost his left leg in a car accident.
Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at https://www.yourworld.net/submit/ It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.