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

15 January 2026
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A male who consistently assaulted an employee at a bookies while already 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, staff with a knife at a newsagent on Bath Road in the town last September before stealing ₤ 281 in money and cigarettes.


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


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


CCTV footage from 25 September revealed Hall in the newsagents displaying a knife and threatening staff before taking cash 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 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 connect 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 totally however I do not understand whether I will have the ability to make it through it if I do go back to work, I no longer feel safe."


In mitigation, Hall's legal representative stated he had actually experienced mental health conditions following childhood trauma and had actually begun using drugs at an extremely young age.


He stated a drug financial obligation had actually likewise affected his client's behaviour.


During sentencing, Hall admitted to three extra offenses - consisting of a break-in at a supermarket in August 2025 - which were taken into account.


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