Robber pretended to be disabled for shop raid – and got battered with woman’s shoe
A robber who battered a shopkeeper with his crutch was left battered and bruised after the victim hit him with her shoe.
Liam Tristram, 35, pretended he was disabled when he hobbled into the shop in St Johns Street, Peterborough, at about 9am on 30 June.
A police spokesman said: ‘He was pretending to be injured by using the crutch to increase the element of surprise.’
He asked for a pack of tobacco and, with the shopworker’s back turned, he went behind the counter and hit her several times with the crutch, causing her to fall over.
Tristram then stole an estimated £450 worth of tobacco and two bottles of spirits, before making an unsuccessful attempt to steal the till.
He left the shop, leaving the crutch behind but as he fled the shopworker pulled off her shoe to lash out at Tristam.
Tristram escaped on a bike.
He was identified from footage captured at the scene and spotted by CCTV operators the following day.
He still had an empty bottle of vodka and a pouch of tobacco stolen in the robbery.
Tristram denied robbery, but was found guilty following a trial at Peterborough Crown Court in January.
On Thursday (15 February), at the same court, Tristram, of London Road, Yaxley, was jailed for six years.
DC Pete Wise said: ‘We take retail crime and attacks like this on shopworkers very seriously.
‘I’d like to commend the victim for her bravery in defending herself against Tristram during this traumatic incident. I’m pleased he was identified and has now faced justice.’
