Knife-wielding Thief Who Attacked Bookies While On Bail Is Jailed

15 January 2026
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A male who consistently attacked a worker at a bookmakers while currently out on bail for robbing a newsagents at knifepoint has been imprisoned for more than seven years.


Robert Hall, 37, of Wellington Street in Cheltenham, threatened personnel with a knife at a newsagent on Bath Road in the town last September before stealing ₤ 281 in cash and cigarettes.


Several weeks later on, after being on bail, he assaulted a member of staff at Paddy Power on the High Street and stole ₤ 500 from the till.


After pleading guilty to one count of possession of a bladed article and 2 counts of robbery, Hall was sentenced to seven years and nine months at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday.


CCTV footage from 25 September showed Hall in the newsagents brandishing a knife and threatening personnel before stealing money from the till.


The following day, Gloucestershire Police said, he was determined, jailed and charged but later on launched on bail by a magistrate.


A month later, on 11 October, Hall was captured on CCTV dragging a member of personnel around behind the counter of a wagering shop and punching them consistently in the face and head.


In a victim effect statement, the team member from the bookies, said following the attack he was "frightened" of working by himself.


'Reliving the attack'


"Mentally this has taken a big toll on me, and I had to get in touch with a counsellor as I have actually been reliving the attack over and over," he said,


"I do not want this attack to change my life entirely however I do not understand whether I will be able to make it through it if I do go back to work, I no longer feel safe."


In mitigation, Hall's attorney stated he had suffered with mental health disorders following childhood injury and had actually started utilizing drugs at a very young age.


He stated a drug financial obligation had actually also affected his customer's behaviour.


During sentencing, Hall confessed to three additional offences - consisting of a break-in at a grocery store in August 2025 - which were taken into consideration.


He was ordered to pay a ₤ 228 victims additional charge and need to provide to half of his sentence before being considered for release on license.