TEESSIDE SCAFFOLDER
Well-known member
Guilt-ridden shop raider handed himself in
Published at 10:41, Saturday, 25 February 2012
A ROBBER who held up a shop in Barrow was so overcome with guilt he handed himself in to police, a court heard.
Scott Paton got away with £320 cash as a result of his crime at Marsh Street Stores, on the corner of Ramsden Street and Marsh Street.
Paton, 29, of no fixed address, yesterday pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to a charge of robbery.
The court heard that Paton made admissions to police when interviewed after the February 5 robbery.
His barrister, Mr Jacob Dyer, said the circumstances of the case were a little unusual.
He said: “He handed himself in to the police station and confessed the offence because he was horrified by what he had done.
“He says it was very much a one off and out of character. He worked full time as a scaffolder until the end of last year.
“On this occasion, he had been without his methadone for some time. That’s what led to this offence.”
Mr Dyer made an application for bail, so the defendant could “put his affairs in order”.
But Judge Anthony Russell QC refused to grant bail.
The case was adjourned to March 30 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service.
Judge Russell said a prison sentence was inevitable.
After the hearing shop owner Keith Bland said he was happy there had been such a swift resolution of the case.
Mr Bland said: “I am very happy with what the police have done. The police had identified who he was, but he just came and handed himself in.”
The insurance had covered some of the cost to the shop and he would wait for the sentencing to see if any reparation was awarded.
Published at 10:41, Saturday, 25 February 2012
A ROBBER who held up a shop in Barrow was so overcome with guilt he handed himself in to police, a court heard.
Scott Paton got away with £320 cash as a result of his crime at Marsh Street Stores, on the corner of Ramsden Street and Marsh Street.
Paton, 29, of no fixed address, yesterday pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to a charge of robbery.
The court heard that Paton made admissions to police when interviewed after the February 5 robbery.
His barrister, Mr Jacob Dyer, said the circumstances of the case were a little unusual.
He said: “He handed himself in to the police station and confessed the offence because he was horrified by what he had done.
“He says it was very much a one off and out of character. He worked full time as a scaffolder until the end of last year.
“On this occasion, he had been without his methadone for some time. That’s what led to this offence.”
Mr Dyer made an application for bail, so the defendant could “put his affairs in order”.
But Judge Anthony Russell QC refused to grant bail.
The case was adjourned to March 30 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service.
Judge Russell said a prison sentence was inevitable.
After the hearing shop owner Keith Bland said he was happy there had been such a swift resolution of the case.
Mr Bland said: “I am very happy with what the police have done. The police had identified who he was, but he just came and handed himself in.”
The insurance had covered some of the cost to the shop and he would wait for the sentencing to see if any reparation was awarded.