One Greggs employee said they are now fearful of confronting shoplifters after Sudan Murray pulled a hammer out and launched a racial attack after pilfering a sandwich and drink
Greggs staff were forced to lock themselves inside the shop after a racist goon pulled a hammer one them.
Sudan Murray had stolen a sandwich and drink from the store, in Albany Road, Cardiff, when staff attempted to accost him over it. The 43-year-old then pulled out a large hammer from his backpack and assaulted police officers who tried to detain him.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that Murray threatened staff, abusing them with racial slurs and threatening that he would be back for them. Staff were left so rattled, they locked themselves in the shop and called the police, Wales Online reports.
Alex Orndal, prosecuting, explained that while Murray was on bail for the offences which occurred in August he beat up a receptionist at a block of flats in Cardiff in October for no apparent reason.
Mr Orndal said: “In August the defendant attended the Greggs bakery at Albany Road where he picked up a sandwich and a drink before leaving without paying. He was challenged by staff and an altercation occurred which began with the defendant shouting at staff.”
Mr Orndal explained how Murray then produced a hammer from his backpack and told staff who were of south Asian descent that he would come back for them before calling the staff members “P****”.
Staff were so scared that Murray would return that they locked themselves in the shop, Mr Orndal explained. One of the staff members at the Greggs store told the court that since that day they no longer have the confidence to challenge shoplifters in case they’re carrying a weapon.
Another staff member said the incident made her feel unwelcome in the UK because the defendant immediately targeted Asian staff and ignored white staff.
The court was then told Murray left Greggs and walked up Albany Road before he was stopped at Plasnewydd Road by South Wales Police officers PC Bartram and PC Phillips.
The two female officers began speaking to the defendant calmly but it was clear he wouldn’t engage with them, the court heard. When they tried to detain him to be searched he made attempts to avoid being handcuffed and he threw punches at the officers.
The officers sustained minor injuries including cuts to the fingers and hands during the incident. After eventually managing to search the defendant the officers found the hammer in his backpack.
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Murray had 14 previous convictions for 25 offences including robbery, battery, aggravated burglary and drug offences.
Murray pleaded guilty to theft, four counts of racially-aggravated harassment with fear of violence, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, four counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker, assault by beating, and criminal damage to property under £5,000. Mr Orndal told the court Murray had 14 previous convictions for 25 offences including robbery, battery, aggravated burglary, and drug offences.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins said he had been persuaded to allow Murray to serve his sentence in the community because, given the guidelines for the offending and the time Murray had already spent on remand, he would only have been able to pass a very short sentence anyway.
He said: “The alternative would be a longer period of supervision with structured intervention and it seems to me on balance that is the better way of dealing with you.”