Robber who targeted Niagara Tim Hortons jailed for 90 days

Distracted by her cellphone, a Whitby woman didn’t realize it wasn’t her husband who jumped in the front seat of their car and took off, as a passerby clung to the side of the vehicle.

When it finally did register that there was strange man driving her car away from a Tim Hortons in St. Catharines, and an unknown woman being dragged, she was able to shift gears and put the car in park.

The driver got out and began to run away, but was cornered by a group of witnesses and held until police arrived.

In Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines Wednesday, the driver, 36-year-old Brandon Boyle, was sentenced to 90 days behind bars on charges stemming from the Nov. 3, 2019, incident including theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.

He had already served the equivalent of a 212-day sentence in presentence custody.

“It’s bizarre behaviour and it’s criminal behaviour,” said assistant Crown attorney Robert Mahler.

Boyle also pleaded guilty to robbery which occurred a month prior to the car theft.

In that case, court heard, he approached employees at a Tim Hortons in Niagara Falls and demanded they turn over cash.

One employee fled to the back of the store while a second employee told the defendant the key to the cash register was also in the back.

Boyle allowed her to go to the back, at which time the employee called police.

He was arrested inside the coffee shop.

Judge Harvey Brownstone commended the employees’ efforts to thwart the crime.

“People who work in convenience stores and fast-food outlets are very vulnerable,” he said. “Often times, drug dealers and other dangerous people can cause trouble for them.

“They (employees) deserve credit for thinking so clearly under terrible pressure.”

The defendant was also placed on probation for three years.