Woman who assaulted Leicester shopkeeper and stole her car jailed

A woman who has assaulted a female shopkeeper before stealing cash and her car has been jailed.

Dawn Lewis, 45, last week pleaded guilty to the charges at Leicester Crown Court, where she was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. She has also got a two-year driving ban.

Lewis, of Clarendon Park Road, Leicester robbed the shop on Howard Road on 1 April.

Entering the shop at around 7.15am, she distracted the shopkeeper by asking for hand sanitiser. As the victim’s back was turned, Lewis took money from the till and a set of car keys from the back room of the store.

She then launched an assault on the victim, punching her in the face and pushing her to the ground. When the victim tried to escape, Lewis grabbed her by her hair and continued to hit her in the face before fleeing the scene in the victim’s car.

Despite the ordeal, the shopkeeper managed to contact emergency services and raise the alarm. She was taken to hospital and discharged a short while later.

Meanwhile, Lewis was arrested following a collision in Loughborough involving the stolen car.

Detective Constable Dave Smith, the investigating officer, said: “Lewis caused undue alarm and distress to the victim without a thought to the outcome of her actions.

“Lewis now faces a jail sentence. I hope this result is of some comfort to her victim providing her the chance to put the events of that day behind her.”