A dad stole £300 worth of goods from Sainsbury’s, but when a security guard tried to stop him he brandished a knife and said: “I need this, I owe someone this.” He also committed another robbery in a supermarket.

Gregg Dalton, 40, first visited Asda in Newport on November 1 when he was seen entering the store with the child. He left the store with a trolley containing £250 worth of unpaid items.

During a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court, the defendant committed a second robbery on November 2 at a Sainsbury’s store in Newport. He was seen leaving the store with a trolley containing six bottles of Baileys, batteries, meat and underwear worth a total of £300.

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The guard challenged him, but was discovered with a knife, which he brandished three times. He told the guard, “You don’t know what I’m going through. “I need this, I owe it to the people.”

The accused was arrested on November 4 after turning himself in at the police station. He told the officer: “My knife is missing; “My partner put it in the river for me.”

Dalton, of Carew Road, Newport, later pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, possession of a knife and using threatening and abusive words or behaviour. The court found he violated his suspended sentence after being found guilty of assault, possession of cocaine, disorderly conduct and possession of a firearm.

In mitigation, lawyer Saul Hartley said his client had “no recollection” of the crimes but pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He said the defendant was going through a difficult period with his mental health, with drugs playing a major role. The court was told his partner had died and his children were living with his sister while he was in custody.

Sentencing Recorder David Elias KC said: “The crime was committed when vulnerable people, including staff, were present.” He sentenced Dalton to 24 months in prison, half of which he will serve on remand and the remainder on licence.

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