A man who robbed an Aldi supermarket in Oxford after threatening a security guard with two knives has been jailed for four years.
The incident occurred at the Headington Aldi store, located at the retail park off Horspath Driftway, when Paterson attempted to leave with unpaid goods after “losing his patience” in a queue.
Mark Paterson, 34, of Horspath Road, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday for robbery and possession of a bladed article.
When confronted by security staff, Paterson produced a small kitchen knife.
The incident occurred at the Headington Aldi store, located at the retail park off Horspath Driftway
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Then, once he was disarmed of the first weapon, he brandished a larger knife before fleeing with the stolen items.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Lucy McGarr detailed how Paterson was initially stopped by a security guard and members of the public on August 11 last year.
“He simply walked out and he was, of course, grabbed by the security and had a knife in his pocket,” his defence barrister Gordana Austen later told the court.
While the exact items stolen were not disclosed in court, the total value of goods taken amounted to £206.
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Thames Valley Police established a cordon around White Road and Horspath Road following the incident.
A large police presence was deployed to the scene and Paterson was initially charged with affray and two counts of possession of a knife in a private place.
The affray charge and second knife possession count were ordered to remain on file.
Paterson had 14 previous convictions for 22 offences, although this was his first robbery and knife possession charge, with his most recent prior conviction for drink driving in 2021.
The court heard that, before the incident occurred, Paterson had been looking forward to spending the day with his son.
Paterson had 14 previous convictions for 22 offences, although this was his first robbery and knife possession charge, with his most recent prior conviction was for drink driving in 2021
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His defence barrister Gordana Austen explained that his former partner had cancelled these plans at the last minute due to illness, leaving him “a bit annoyed.”
Austen told the court that upon release, Paterson would have stable accommodation with his mother, adding that he would “be able to start work straight away”.
“You appreciate what you’ve done and it’s serious because of the knife being produced,” Judge Daly told Paterson, before handing him a four-year jail sentence.
Paterson had admitted to losing his patience while waiting in what his defence described as “a slow and long queue”.
