Carlisle man given 50 months following Denton Street robbery

David Scott Pattinson, 31, went into the Coral store on Denton Street at around 6pm on August 7 last year with a face covering pulled up to the top of his nose and only eyes visible.

Two male customers were in the shop, one of whom challenged him about spending so long in the shop without doing anything. After the two males left, the lone female employee watched Pattinson wrote a note which he handed over after walking towards her.

“I’ve been watching the shop for a while,” it read. “I know where you live. I’m homeless. I’m destitute. I have a knife.”

Asked why he was doing that, Pattinson replied: “I have no other option. I would rather be in jail.”

The female replied “I can’t do it, I’m sorry”, pressing the panic alarm and starting to dial 999.

Pattinson then climbed over the counter, prompting the worker to retreat to an area and press her body weight against a door to prevent the robber entering.

When she peeped through soon after, she saw Pattinson snatch £1,221 cash. As he left, Pattinson tried to wipe away handprints, telling her not to call anyone, to lock the door and warned: “Do it quickly. People are coming.”

SCENE: Coral in Denton St, Carlisle

Pattinson was identified after CCTV footage was viewed. He was wearing the same distinctive jacket he had on while trying to burgle the Opera Bingo outlet, also on Denton Street, half an hour before he entered the bookies.

Staff at the bingo hall, where he leaned over a counter and rummaged through a drawer, remembered him. He had visited days earlier in a failed bid to open an account before asking for a taxi in the name of “Pattinson”.

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In an impact statement, the Coral worker described “she was scared for her life”, said prosecutor Gerard Rogerson.

“I honestly froze in the moment as the fear came over me,” she stated. “I felt if I refused him money he would attack me and do me serious harm.”

Five days after his release from a prison sentence, on April 17, heavily-convicted Pattinson committed more crimes. Along with accomplice Dale Graham, 38, he stole a moped.

Hours later, Pattinson stole products from Currock Road’s Co-op and threatened a shop worker while brandishing a screwdriver when challenged.

In his impact statement, the worker asked Pattinson directly: “I hope you understand the effect this crime has had on me.”

Pattinson, of Baird Road, Carlisle, admitted robbery, burglary, affray and several thefts, and was jailed for a total of 50 months.

Of the robbery victim, Judge Nicholas Barker told him: “In her mind she thought you were armed with a knife. This is a serious matter. She was clearly scared of what you might do.”

Graham, of no fixed address, received a six-month jail term for four thefts and a common assault.

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