Man slashed at worker in shop as he stole coffee

KNIFE CUT THROUGH UNIFORM

- By Rob Kennedy

A ROBBER with a "distinctively large head" slashed towards a shop worker's abdomen with a knife when she tried to stop him stealing laundry pods and coffee.

Former council worker Billy Harvey came so close to seriously injuring the woman, his blade cut through her uniform jacket, leaving her terrified.

The attack at B&M in North Shields was the second robbery he had carried out in that town that day.

The first happened around 3.20pm on March 1 this year, when Harvey and Daniel Cowie attended a One Stop shop, on Waterville Road.

Katie Spence, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "Mr Cowie entered the store wearing a balaclava. He picked up around £27 worth of laundry pods and made his way back towards the door.

"He was challenged by the shopkeeper, who attempted to take the washing up pods back. Mr Cowie barged past him and at around that point in time Mr Harvey, who was standing by the doorway, warned the shopkeeper against any further intervention, saying something along the lines of "I will stab you" and gesturing towards his pocket."

As a result of that threat, the worker let them leave and called the police.

In a victim impact statement, he said: "I do not come to work to be threatened. This makes me feel uncomfortable and worried at the fact that these individuals may come back and threaten me again".