NEWS FEED
Robber who used hypodermic needle as a threat and hid in bin in Bournemouth is jailed
A man who threatened shop workers with a hypodermic needle during two robberies and hid in a commercial bin in Bournemouth has been jailed for three years and four months.
Jonathan Moores, 36 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 2 February after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery and two charges of possessing an offensive weapon.
The court heard that on 31 December 2016 at 9.30am Moores entered the Co-op store in Charminster Road, picked up a bottle of whiskey and walked toward the door. As he did so he took a syringe from his pocket and threatened members of staff with it before he left with the whiskey.
CCTV footage was viewed and Moores was identified as the offender by a police officer.
The second offence took place at around 3.10pm on 3 January 2017 at Maplin in Commercial Road when Moores was seen by two members of staff to pick up two hard drives. When they challenged Moores, he verbally threatened staff before brandishing a needle.
Moores left the store, went into the car park and was seen to hide in a commercial bin. Officers arrived, found Moores inside the bin and arrested him. The hard drives and an uncapped needle were found in his jacket pocket.
Detective Constable Ben Morgan, of Bournemouth CID, said: “Jonathan Moores was responsible for carrying out these cowardly robberies which must have been very distressing for the members of staff involved.
“I hope the sentence handed out by the court sends out a very clear message that robbery offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”
