‘Desperate’ heroin addict is ‘truly remorseful’

HEROIN addict Daniel Shaw had taken the drug since the age of 11 and at the time of the attempted robbery was in a ‘really bad place’, the court heard.

When questioned by police he said he had been withdrawing from both heroin and crack cocaine and leading up to the incident had a habit of between £60 and £100 a day.

Prosecutor Stephen Parker told the court how Shaw woke up ‘rattling’ and had gone out with the intention of getting some money ‘by any means’.

Shaw told officers that he was in a ‘desperate situation’ and had intended to grab someone’s money when he saw them at the cashpoint’.

Mr Parker told the court: “When he saw the woman he had enough of waiting. He didn’t know how much had been withdrawn.

“He said he got the knife out as more of a scare tactic. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. He wanted to apologise to the young lad and female.

“He said he was sorry and that he was in a bad place at the time and had a drug habit for 21 years.”

The court heard how Shaw had previously been jailed in 2010 for five years and given an extended three years on licence for a robbery conviction.

Nicholas Dearing, defending, said Shaw had caused ‘inordinate distress’ and was a ‘very misguided and desperate man’.

He told the court: “He recognises how he behaved and understands the harm he has caused. He has expressed no concern for himself and is truly remorseful.

“The production of the knife was the full extent of the violence. There was no intention to cause physical harm to either of the victims.

“He was a very misguided and desperate man who meant her and [the boy] no harm and is genuinely remorseful for the upset and disturbance which he has brought to their lives and the ongoing impact which it has had upon them.”

Judge Jonathan Gibson said it was a ‘brief but substantial struggle’ which had left both victims ‘extremely traumatised’.

Sentencing, he said: “You have been assessed as dangerous in the past and I have to be satisfied that there’s a significant risk of serious harm which could be caused by you in the future.

“It seems that test is amply made out by the facts of your previous conviction for robbery and this conviction.”

He had intended to grab someone’s money when he saw them at the cashpoint