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

15 January 2026
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A man who a worker at a bookies while currently out on bail for robbing a newsagents at knifepoint has actually been jailed for more than 7 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 attacked a member of personnel 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 2 counts of burglary, Hall was sentenced to 7 years and 9 months at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday.


CCTV video footage from 25 September revealed Hall in the newsagents brandishing a knife and threatening personnel before stealing cash from the till.


The following day, Gloucestershire Police stated, he was determined, jailed and charged but later released on bail by a magistrate.


A month later on, on 11 October, Hall was captured on CCTV dragging a member of personnel around behind the counter of a betting shop and punching them consistently in the face and head.


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


'Reliving the attack'


"Mentally this has taken a big toll on me, and I needed to contact a counsellor as I have been reliving the attack over and over," he said,


"I do not want this attack to change my life completely nevertheless I do not understand whether I will have the ability to make it through it if I do return to work, I no longer feel safe."


In mitigation, Hall's attorney said he had suffered with psychological health disorders following childhood injury and had actually begun utilizing drugs at a very young age.


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


During sentencing, Hall confessed to three extra offences - including a robbery at a supermarket in August 2025 - which were taken into account.


He was purchased to pay a ₤ 228 victims surcharge and need to provide to half of his sentence before being considered for release on license.