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 currently out on bail for robbing a newsagents at knifepoint has actually 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 taking ₤ 281 in money and cigarettes.


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


After pleading guilty to one count of belongings of a bladed short article and 2 counts of burglary, Hall was to 7 years and 9 months at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday.


CCTV video 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 stated, he was determined, detained and charged but later released 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 shop and punching them consistently in the face and head.


In a victim effect declaration, the team member from the bookmakers, stated following the attack he was "scared" of working by himself.


'Reliving the attack'


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


"I do not desire this attack to change my life completely however I do not understand whether I will have the ability to survive it if I do go back to work, I no longer feel safe."


In mitigation, Hall's lawyer said he had actually experienced psychological health disorders following childhood injury and had started utilizing drugs at a very young age.


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


During sentencing, Hall confessed to three additional offences - consisting of a break-in at a supermarket in August 2025 - which were thought about.


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