Man who assaulted shop workers during Newport robbery is jailed

A man who assaulted shop staff during a robbery in Newport has been jailed.

Daniel Taylor, aged 30, entered Central Convenience store on the High Street at around 2pm on 21 March this year, and initially enquired about alcohol.

Taylor left the store before returning around 10 minutes later to buy some sweets. After a member of staff opened the till, Taylor reached over the counter and grabbed some cash whilst yelling at the cashier. The cashier was then punched in the face by Taylor.

Another employee, who was in the store but off duty at the time, tried to stop Taylor but was punched and kicked.

Taylor fled the shop with some cash, but left behind his mobile phone. He then ran to a nearby hotel to change his clothes, before he was spotted by officers in the town.

He was arrested whilst hiding in a skip behind Halfords. During his arrest, he admitted he had robbed the store, and was found with £20 on him.

Appearing at Isle of Wight Crown Court on 29 April, Taylor, of Lowtherville Road in Ventnor, admitted two counts of robbery.

Taylor appeared at the same court on Friday 31 May where he was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

DC Lou Daniels said: “Officers on the Isle of Wight work hard to target retail criminals and work with businesses to keep them safer.

“Much of this involves targeting habitual shoplifters and those who are disorderly and abusive to retail staff. On the more serious end of the scale, we have offenders like Taylor who use physical violence against shop workers in order to make financial gain.

“This behaviour will never be tolerated. I hope the local resident and business communities on the Island can be reassured that police swiftly responded and arrested Taylor after this incident, and he is now behind bars.”