A gambler who robbed a pharmacy of around £100 after losing more than 10 times that amount has been branded “idiotic” by a judge.
Having “drowned his sorrows” at losing “more than he could afford”, John Walker targeted Cairns Chemist in Dover on his way to meeting his sister for lunch.
Canterbury Crown Court heard the 39-year-old walked to the counter, ordering the fearful cashier to “open the f****** register” and then dipping into the till to take a handful of notes.
As he then headed back towards the store’s entrance, pharmacist David Maloney and a number of customers bravely stepped in to tackle him.
A struggle ensued which ended up with Mr Maloney banging his head after being knocked to the floor and the crook escaping.
mpu1
But the court was told dad-of-two Walker was so ashamed at his actions that he handed himself in to police that same day and before he had even been identified as the robber.
Now, he is counting the cost of landing his first criminal conviction and having to fork out more money than he actually nabbed.
The court heard Walker struck at the London Road pharmacy on April 15 last year.
The previous day he had lost £1,000 gambling – described as a “sporadic problem” by his lawyer.
“He then went and drank too much to drown his sorrows and, needing the money to make it up to his family, he went and did something completely out of character on the way to meeting his sister for lunch,” said Kaye Rolfe, defending.
“This was a one-off blip, not done before, and I can tell you that from the shame he has felt from this offence, it is not something he is going to do again.”
Ms Rolfe added that the railway worker had shown “great remorse” from the outset.
mpu2
Walker, of Park Avenue, Dover, admitted robbery.
However, there was some discrepancy during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday (July 3) as to how much money he got away with.
Although a figure stated in the case papers was £110, the compensation claim was for £70.
It was the lower amount Walker was ordered to repay, as well as a victim surcharge of £187, leading the judge, Recorder Daniel Stevenson, to remark: “You admitted (to police) you were a compulsive gambler and had lost more than £1,000 the day before, and so you decided to solve your problem by stealing from the till.
“What you did as a method of resolving your financial loss is nothing short of idiotic, all for the sake of around £100.
“The surcharge alone is more than you would have got away with.”
Recorder Stevenson also commended those who had tried to thwart Walker’s escape for their “courage and fortitude”, adding that Mr Maloney had been left “angry at the audacity” of the robber.
But the judge added that Walker had used “minimal force” in what was a “spontaneous” crime, and it was “to his credit” he had handed himself in.
Walker was spared immediate custody due to his guilty plea, genuine remorse, lack of previous convictions and the realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
But having imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for 18 months, with 140 hours of unpaid work and five rehabilitation activity requirements, Recorder Stevenson warned: “I have given you an opportunity today and I sincerely hope you don’t waste it.”