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

15 January 2026
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A man who consistently assaulted an employee at a bookies while already out on bail for robbing a newsagents at knifepoint has been jailed 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 money and cigarettes.


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


After pleading guilty to one count of possession of a bladed article and two counts of burglary, Hall was sentenced to 7 years and 9 months at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday.


CCTV video from 25 September showed Hall in the newsagents brandishing a knife and threatening staff before taking money from the till.


The following day, Gloucestershire Police stated, he was identified, 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 staff around behind the counter of a betting store and punching them repeatedly in the face and head.


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


'Reliving the attack'


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


"I do not desire this attack to change my life entirely nevertheless I do not know whether I will be able to survive it if I do return to work, I no longer feel safe."


In mitigation, Hall's lawyer said he had actually suffered with mental health conditions following youth trauma and had begun utilizing drugs at a really young age.


He said a drug debt had also affected his customer's behaviour.


During sentencing, Hall confessed to three additional offenses - including a burglary at a grocery store in August 2025 - which were taken into account.


He was ordered to pay a ₤ 228 victims surcharge and should serve up to half of his sentence before being thought about for release on license.