Thug, 49, with 39 convictions who punched pregnant girl within the face whereas she was pushing her child in a pram is jailed after attacking a 77-year-old shopkeeper

A thug who has now been jailed after carrying out a violent attack on a 77-year-old shopkeeper had previously punched a pregnant woman in the face – as she walked with her baby.

Philip Kent, 50, and accomplice Joseph Murphy, 49, stole hundreds of pounds from a till before entering into a violent struggle with the owner of Ritchie’s Fruitique’s Boutique in Liverpool.

Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, Kent and Murphy admitted robbery and were jailed for three years and nine months and two years and seven months respectively on Thursday, the Liverpool Echo reported. 

During the trial, Liverpool Crown Court was told Kent’s criminal record showed 39 entries for 103 offences such as inflicting grievous bodily harm, robbery, burglary and aggravated vehicle taking .

The court heard how Richard Spencer had run the shop for more than 40 years and was assisting a customer on August 3 when the two robbers entered the premises.

Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, told the court that Murphy made his way to the back of the shop while Kent engaged Mr Spencer in conversation. 

But while the pensioner’s back was turned, Kent leaned over the shop’s counter and took a bundle of cash.

However, the owner did not give up easily, grabbing hold of his t-shirt and shouting for help before Murphy came to his aid and ‘prized Mr Spencer’s hands away from him’.

The pair managed to escape with an estimated £600 in cash, whilst also causing damage to £500 worth of stock.

Mr Spencer also saw a further £2,000 loss in takings after he was forced to close his shop for two weeks after the altercation left him with a tightness in his chest, which resulted in him spending 10 days in hospital.

He said in a statement, which was read out to the court on his behalf, that he had ‘never had major issues before’ in his decades running the business, adding that this incident caused him a ‘serious setback’ in his health.

Both defendants were subsequently arrested on August 19.

Once apprehended, Kent told the police: ‘I’m not a burglar, I’m an armed robber me boss. We knew yous [sic] were coming.’ 

Murphy meanwhile told officers when he was detained: ‘We knew yous [sic] were coming. I’m gutted I’m in trouble. I thought I’d kept a clean slate.’

Murphy has a total of 39 previous convictions for 111 offences including inflicting grievous bodily harm, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, witness intimidation and aggravated vehicle taking.

His counsel Stephen McNally told the court: ‘The intent was for this to be a snatch theft, with Mr Murphy distracting and Mr Kent snatching. The defendant acknowledges that force was used.

‘It is quite clear from his antecedent history that he has had long term issues with drug use. It is quite a depressing situation.

‘His drug problems have led to mental health problems. He has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He does say that he is determined the beat the addiction.’

Meanwhile, Kent’s criminal record meanwhile shows 39 entries for 103 offences such as inflicting grievous bodily harm, robbery, burglary and aggravated vehicle taking.

One incident in 2012 saw him steal money from the till at the café of a Morrisons supermarket after assaulting an employee.

In 2015, he received 44 months behind bars for punching a pregnant woman who was pushing her 18-month-old child in a pram and stealing property from her.

According to reports at the time, Kent had asked the victim for directions as she was walking to the shop before hitting her in the face near to her home in the Preston area, snatching a bracelet from her arm and her mobile phone.

Simran Garcha, defending, said on his behalf: ‘He has had a period of reflection in custody. He informs me that he is extremely remorseful and wants to apologise to the court and to the victim.

‘I submit that it was an opportunistic offence with very little or no planning. It was not a sophisticated offence. I submit that it is a theft gone wrong.

‘His last conviction was in 2019. He was released from custody a number of years ago and made significant positive progress in his life. He spent three years living in a hostel and spent time living with his brother.

‘He spent his time productively. He went to the gym, completed household errands and attended narcotics anonymous meetings regularly, which helped him, for a significant time, to abstain from drugs.

‘In July 2024, however, his mental health declined rapidly. He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. On release, he had nowhere to live. Mr King was sofa surfing and was thereafter sectioned again.

‘On release, he was homeless. He began taking heroin and crack cocaine and his life began quickly spiralling out of control. His life was off the rails. All of that progress and hard work by him was undone.

‘He has experienced significant trauma. One of his brothers hung himself three months ago and Mr Kent lost his son in January this year aged 26 after he suffered a heart attack. He was only informed of that six weeks after his funeral.

‘He also lost his mother, father and another sibling approximately two years ago. He is hoping that this period of incarceration will help him get his life back on track.’

Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: ‘I have watched CCTV of this distressing incident, which led to a substantial detrimental impact on this business. More significantly, a man of 77 with some vulnerabilities sustained a nasty, shocking incident.

‘He is well known in Old Swan and has traded for years and has never had an incident happen as shocking as this. It was a serious crime in which people were prepared to use violence against him to steal his money.

‘It was, I accept, more opportunistic than planned. It is aggravated by your previous convictions. That especially attaches to Mr Kent.

‘I accept that both of you have addictions and you have both seriously suffered with your mental health over the years. I accept that you have both attempted to make amends and that this offence took place at a time when you were chaotically out of control.’