Man sentenced to six years following knife-point robbery at local Hythe supermarket

A 35-year-old man has been today (8 September) sentenced to six years in jail after pleading guilty of committing a robbery in the Hythe area earlier this year.

Shaun Andrew Havard of no fixed abode had been previously charged with robbery and threatening a person with an article or a blade in a public place following an incident on Sunday 10 July.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Havard had entered Tesco Express on Langdown Lawn in Hythe at around 10.25pm on 10 July and approached a staff member, before threatening them with a knife.

He then demanded cash and cigarettes from another member of staff before fleeing the scene with a quantity of stolen property.

The court then heard how initial police enquires led officers to an address on Maritime Avenue in Marchwood. Three people were located and detained in a vehicle, alongside a further person in a nearby property.

A search of the vehicle and property uncovered quantities of cash and cigarettes – which were seized for evidential purposes – linked to the initial robbery which had taken place.

Shaun Havard, who was arrested and subsequently charged with robbery and threatening a person with a bladed article the following day (11 July), appeared at Southampton Crown Court today (8 September) and was jailed for six years for the offences he committed.

Police Staff Investigator, Jordan Clayton, said: “This was a particularly nasty incident for those staff members who were implicated, and for those who witnessed the incident – and wish to praise them for their bravery during the ordeal.

“Shaun Andrew Havard is now behind bars where he can no longer cause any harm or distress to those in the local community – with the judge handing down a significant sentence befitting of the offences committed.

“We hope that local residents can see that we take these offences very seriously and seek to bring people in front of the courts, with the support of the Crown Prosecution Service, in order for justice to be served.”

Previously Paul Hughes, aged 41, of Golden Grove in Southampton and Catherine Goodwin, aged 45, of Maritime Avenue in Marchwood had been charged with robbery. After further police investigation, the cases against them were dismissed at court by the judge.