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

15 January 2026
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A male who repeatedly assaulted a worker at a bookmakers 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, threatened 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, 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 possession of a bladed article and two counts of robbery, Hall was sentenced to seven years and nine months at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday.


CCTV footage from 25 September showed Hall in the newsagents brandishing a knife and threatening staff before taking cash from the till.


The following day, Gloucestershire Police said, he was identified, detained and charged however later launched 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 wagering shop and punching them repeatedly in the face and head.


In a victim impact declaration, the staff member from the bookmakers, said following the attack he was "scared" of working by himself.


'Reliving the attack'


"Mentally this has actually taken a huge toll on me, and I had to get in touch with 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 know whether I will be able to make it through it if I do return to work, I no longer feel safe."


In mitigation, Hall's legal representative stated he had suffered with psychological health conditions following youth injury and had actually begun utilizing drugs at a really young age.


He stated a drug financial obligation had also affected his .


During sentencing, Hall confessed to three additional offenses - consisting of a robbery at a grocery store in August 2025 - which were considered.


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