South Shields shop robber who left worker terrified foiled by quick-thinking van driver who blocked getaway

A shop robber who yanked a till from a terrified shop worker was thwarted by a hero van driver who blocked his getaway.

Aaron Greenhow went into Boldon Lane News, in South Shields, on August 13 2022 with his hood up to disguise himself. Caroline McGuirk, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He approached the counter to steal the till from the lady behind the counter, who held onto it, or the wire of it, to try to prevent him stealing it.

"This tug-of-war lasted less than a minute. Her left wrist repeatedly made contact with the counter, leaving a large bump on her wrist."

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The till wire eventually snapped and Greenhow ran out of the shop with it. However he was thwarted when a quick-thinking van driver spotted what was happening and drove his vehicle in front of the robber, causing him to run into the side of it and drop the till, which he left behind with his fingerprints on it.

The court heard the offence has had a serious impact on the victim, who had worked there for 27 years. She initially returned to work but was always on edge and ended up retiring because she was "crippled with anxiety".

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She said in a statement: "The only place I feel safe is in my home, which I rarely leave for fear of running into him. I'm afraid of something similar happening to me again.

"When I am out, I'm constantly looking over my shoulder and worry something bad is going to happen. I can't remember what the man looks like which adds to my anxiety because I keep thinking I could be standing next to him without knowing it.

"I've been left mentally scarred by the events. I should be able to enjoy my retirement but he has taken that away from me."

The court heard the shop was left hundreds of pounds out of pocket due to having to get a replacement till.

Greenhow, 31, of Gresford Street, South Shields, who has 58 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for four years.

Robin Turton, defending, said he is remorseful and has long-standing mental health issues, including paranoid schizophrenia.