Man, who thrashed Orford c-store staff before robbing, put behind bars

A man, who attacked a shop worker over a couple of vapes, has now been jailed.

According to local reports, the offences took place at a convenience store on School Road in Orford, Suffolk on March 1 after the man, now identified as Sean McDaid, was asked to pay for two pink lemonade vapes. But the 39-year-old accused quickly became abusive and after attacking the shop assistant and taking the items, he even returned to throw a brick at the store.

McDaid appeared before Liverpool Crown Court via video link on Wednesday after pleading guilty to robbery and criminal damage to property under £5,000.

Prosecuting, Christopher Hopkins told the court how McDaid entered the store and in an ‘unpleasant manner’ asked for two pink lemonade vapes and a small bottle of Glen’s Vodka.

When he asked to pay the £45 bill, McDaid was demanding that the products were handed to him first before he paid. However the shop assistant told him that he would have to pay first, the court heard.

McDaid, of no fixed abode, began to demand the products and became abusive towards the victim before walking behind the till swearing and shouting ‘give me the vapes’, reports said. He then gripped the shop worker and pushed him back into a display cabinet which was full of alcohol bottles.

The court heard how McDaid became forceful and was shouting in his face and grabbing him.

He then took a bottle of brandy from the shelf and threatened the victim telling him to pass him the vapes or he would ‘leather’ and ‘bottle him’.

McDaid continued to grab hold of him and kicked him before pushing him from behind the till and on to the shop floor.

CCTV footage also showed McDaid raising a bottle in the air and threatening the victim with it, reports said, adding he left the shop with two vapes and a bottle of brandy without paying.

The court was told that the victim had worked in the shop for six months and felt ‘genuine fear’ that he was about to be seriously assaulted.

The criminal damage charge was formed when McDaid returned to the store shortly after and threw a brick at an electric machine outside of the shop – smashing the screen.

McDaid has been jailed for 33 months and two weeks.

He was also issued an indefinite restraining order against the victim and the Orford shop.