Thug threatened to kill shop guard
A violent yob has been jailed for punching a Sunderland supermarket security guard and threatening to kill him – but will not spend a day behind bars for it.
Robert Ball, 37, smashed the man on his head and then reached into his pocket and warned, “I’m going to stab you up, I’ll kill you”.
Ball fled the Seaburn outlet but was later arrested, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.
But he is already serving two years for a more serious assault and his latest 16-week stretch will run alongside and not after it.
Prosecutor Paul Anderson said Ball was at the outlet with two other men on Tuesday, August 11, and was challenged over a suspected theft.
Mr Anderson added: “He tried to leave and punched the security guard on the temple.
“He then reached into his jacket pocket and was shouting, ‘I’m going to stab you up, I’ll kill you’.
“The guard didn’t know if the defendant was going to do anything and decided to move away.
“The defendant is wellknown
to the police and was subsequently arrested. He is currently serving a substantialsentenceofimprisonment.
“He has a huge number of offences, including eleven against the person and over 100 of dishonesty.”
Jason Smith, defending, said: “There’s one thing that Mr Ball takes issue with.
“It’s that the guard challenged outside the shop and tripped him up by flipping his heel, he smashed his face on the ground.
“He doesn’t make the threats but admits punching him as described.”
The court heard Ball also stole air fresheners, phone chargers, a torch, a gear knob and tools, valued at £275, from
Halfords, in Trimdon Street, Sunderland,onThursday,September 17.
He pleaded guilty to that theft and assault by beating of the security guard video link from prison.
At an earlier hearing, he pleadedguiltytocriminaldamageofaphone,threetheftsand assaulting a police officer, and all charges were dealt with at his latest hearing.
District Judge Paul Currer jailed Ball for four weeks on all other offences, to run concurrent to the 16-week sentence and concurrent to his current jail sentence.
Ball,formerlyofHighStreet East,Sunderland,mustpaythe security guard £100 compensation.