Boozed-up Thornaby brothers' violent robbery on Asda delivery driver

From left, Daniel Conroy, 39, with brother Sean Conroy, 37
-Credit: (Image: Cleveland Police)


A pair of drunken brothers attacked an Asda worker robbing him of two crates of lager as he tried to deliver shopping.

Daniel Conroy, 39, and Sean Conroy, 37, targeted the 31-year-old Asda delivery driver on Oxford Road, in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, on April 8. Prosecutor Sarah Hopkinson told Teesside Crown Court it was around 8.30pm when the men approached the Asda van on their bikes.

She said: "[Name of victim] was busy getting shopping crates out of the van and taking them to an address. The two defendants arrived on bikes and removed two crates of lager from the vehicle. When the complainant tried to stop them they assaulted him. Shaun Conroy punched him in the face and Daniel Conroy shouted out 'don't you hit my brother'. He then ran over, pulled his hood over his head, and started to punch and kick him to face."

The court heard the Thornaby brothers left the man injured, making off on their bikes with the booze. Ms Hopkinson said the delivery driver sustained a split lip, bruising and swelling to his face, lacerations to his knee and a black eye. Summarising a victim impact statement she said: "He indicates he now feels anxious while at work."

At the time of the incident, a Cleveland Police spokesperson said the delivery driver attended hospital for treatment to his leg and face, and was later released. The court heard the defendants were identified on CCTV and arrested on June 28. They later pleaded guilty to robbery.

Ms Hopkinson said just weeks after the robbery, Daniel Conroy stole a bankcard from a car and attempted to use it four times on April 26. He later admitted fraud.

Defending on his behalf, Kelleigh Lodge asked for credit for his guilty pleas and said he has struggled with drug addiction and relapsed shortly before the robbery. She said he didn't go out to rob anyone and said the offence was opportunistic.

Michele Turner, for Sean Conroy, said he has shown he is capable of living a law-abiding life as he has had eight offence free years. She said there is a job open to him once he is released from prison and he is now clean and sober. She added: "He wants to extend his sincere apologies to the victim."

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Carroll described the pair as having "dreadful" records. He said: "Both of you have dreadful lists of previous convictions. You two were out on your bikes drunk and very possibly under the influence of drugs. You saw a lone person in the early evening and saw your opportunity to steal."

The Lanehouse Road pair were both sentenced to 40 months in prison for the robbery. Daniel Conroy was given a four-week consecutive sentence for the fraud.

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