Jail again for would-be robber who attacked same Halifax newsagents after prison release
A man who targeted the same Halifax newsagents he had previously been jailed for robbing on the day he was released from prison has been jailed.
Aiden Kershaw was told today that his prison sentence for the attempted robbery of the owner of Buckwell News, on Free School Lane in Savile Park, would be four-and-a-half years, but Recorder Patrick Palmer said he was imposing an extended licence period of three years because the 32-year-old was a dangerous offender.
Bradford Crown Court heard how Kershaw, of no fixed abode, had been jailed in August last year for an earlier robbery at the same premises.
Prosecutor Vince Blake-Barnard said the attempted robbery at the shop in March this year was committed on the day Kershaw had been released from custody.
At about 1pm that day, Kershaw went into the store while the owner was serving a female customer.
Mr Blake-Barnard said Kershaw raised a kitchen knife and demanded: "Give me everything in the till.”
As the woman left the shop to get help, the owner tried to shoulder charge Kershaw and push him out.
Mr Blake-Barnard said during the struggle the owner suffered slash wounds to his head.
Kershaw left empty-handed but was later seen in the street with blood on his arms and legs and was arrested.
The defendant subjected two police officers to racial abuse and also spat towards a female officer.
Kershaw admitted charges of attempted robbery and racial aggravated harassment.
In a letter read to the court by Kershaw himself, he expressed his deep regret for the harm he caused to the shop owner.
The court heard that Kershaw had been diagnosed with PTSD and had struggled with his mental health and substance misuse.
Recorder Palmer said Kershaw had been jailed for 30 months for his previous robbery at the newsagents and had committed this offence on the day he was released.
He said he had seen photographs of the shop owner’s injuries and they were graphic and very unpleasant.
Kershaw will have to serve two-thirds of his four-and-a-half year jail sentence before being considered for release by the Parole Board.