Paignton man jailed after armed robbery
Dennis Ham, 30 was sentenced to 4 years in prison
Dennis Ham, 30, of Hyde Road in Paignton, held up a local Costcutters at knifepoint. at around 7am on Friday 28 February.
The court heard how Ham entered the store at around 7am and said that he’d come to take the money out of the till and that he was armed.
Initially the member of staff present thought Ham was joking as she knew him as a regular customer, but soon realised his intentions when he pointed a kitchen knife with a 12” blade in her direction.
The staff member froze, and Ham went behind the counter and stole money from a till. He also made an unsuccessful attempt to steal from a second till, but it would not open.
Ham then left the store before being located and arrested.
Ham appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence on 1 May after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article in a public place and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Before being arrested Ham went to Costa Coffee and approached a group of three men having a drink outside. Ham asked them if they knew of any sex offenders that wanted taking out and showed them the knife in his waistband.
An attending officer was able to locate two knives at a building site nearby.
In interview Ham told officers he couldn’t remember events as he’d drank large amounts of alcohol and consumed drugs overnight.
Detective Constable Jake Woodbridge said: “The robbery was a truly terrifying ordeal for the member of staff present in the shop at the time, and I have no doubt it will continue to have a considerable psychological impact on her.
“Ham chose to abuse alcohol and drugs before pointing a knife at a woman who was simply trying to do her job.
“He then showed a knife to three members of the public who were minding their own business.
“Anybody who carries a knife in public is endangering the lives of all who they come into contact with, and I welcome the sentence given to Ham.”