Robber threatened to stab woman in Birmingham shop during cigarettes and booze raid

Paul & Sons Wines on Bromford Lane in Erdington
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


A robber threatened to stab a female shop worker in a terrifying raid for cigarettes and alcohol. Derek Sinclair quickly became violent at Paul & Sons Wines in Erdington by slapping the woman to the face causing her to fear for her safety.

The 36-year-old was caught on CCTV repeatedly threatening to further attack her as she urged him to leave while in clear distress. Sinclair, from Tyburn Road, had rapidly descended into alcohol abuse following two family bereavements, Birmingham Crown Court was told on Friday, January 24.

He admitted robbery and was sentenced to two years and four months. He entered the off-licence on Bromford Lane around 10.30pm on November 6 last year.

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Prosecutor Sabhia Pathan said the female shop worker was behind the counter and talking to a customer, who ran out of the store when Sinclair entered. She said: "When he reached the end of the counter she details feeling scared.

"He walked to the end and proceeded to slap her across the face on the right-hand side. She describes this was with a bit of force and it hurt.

"She feared for her safety and was unsure what the defendant would do. She backed herself into a corner behind the counter and had nowhere to go."

Sinclair stuffed his pockets with cigarettes from the tobacco cupboard before grabbing two bottles of vodka from a shelf and then running out of the shop. The female shop worker recalled having seen him in the store at 5pm that day when he made a legitimate purchase of beer.

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Footage of the robbery was played to the court during which Sinclair could be heard to say 'don't f*** with me you know' as well as 'who do you think you are talking to do you want me to stab you up?'.

At that moment one of his associates in the public gallery at court began sniggering, prompting a warning from Recorder Geoffrey Kelly that he would be kicked out of court if he continued. Sinclair had 22 previous convictions for 41 offences.

Adam Wieczerzak, defending, stated his client had a 'difficult childhood', including going into care aged six. He submitted that Sinclair's previous offending was related to alcohol abuse, adding that he had abstained from drinking after deciding to 'turn his life around' more than ten years ago.

The court was told in October last year he found out his biological mother had died from a family post on TikTok, with his foster father dying shortly afterwards. Mr Wieczerzak said: "He accepts he began alcohol abuse again to deal with the grief and self-medicate with alcohol. He didn't stop drinking until the date of the offence."

The barrister stated Sinclair has since engaged with addiction services and stop drinking again, adding: "When he saw the CCTV he couldn't believe it was him behaving in that way."

Passing sentence Recorder Kelly said: "What you do and what you say to her (the victim) must have been absolutely petrifying. I think you accept that through your guilty plea and the remorse you have expressed."