A shop worker feared for his life when a man threatened him with a syringe. The incident occurred at Bargain Booze, leading to the attacker’s arrest and a prison sentence.
Fenton: A shop worker had a terrifying encounter recently. Ian Martin, 41, threatened him with a syringe and claimed he had a gun. It all went down at Bargain Booze.
Martin was drunk and acting erratically. He even showed off cuts on his stomach, saying his partner did it. The shop owner wasn’t interested when Martin tried to sell a watch.
Things escalated quickly. Martin slapped the worker and grabbed items from the counter. He lunged at the worker with a hypodermic needle, making threats about having a knife and a gun.
The worker was scared for his life. He grabbed a wine bottle to defend himself but it didn’t stop Martin. The attacker even punched him and threw a chocolate bar before stealing a box of miniature spirits worth £300.
Just days before, Martin had been involved in a burglary at TK Maxx, stealing designer coats. He has a long criminal history and was recognized by police from CCTV footage.
In court, he pleaded guilty to several charges. His lawyer mentioned Martin’s struggles with drugs, but the judge wasn’t lenient. He received a 16-month prison sentence and a restraining order.
The judge noted how frightening the incident was for the shop worker. Martin’s history of crime and addiction has led him down a dark path, and now he faces the consequences.
