Masked teenager hit shopkeeper over head with hammer during ‘savage’ robbery at Sunderland store

A teenager hit a shopkeeper over the head with a hammer during a “savage” robbery at a convenience store. Denny Brown attempted to conceal his identity while targeting Silksworth Convenience Store in the New Silksworth area of Sunderland.

The 18-year-old entered the shop wearing a hat and a mask and hit the male owner over the head with a hammer.

Newcastle Crown Court, sitting at Moot Hall, heard how Brown subjected the victim to a vicious assault for three-and-a-half minutes and video footage appeared to show him kicking him when his was down.

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Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said he then picked up two or three bottles of vodka before leaving the shop on March 22 this year, taking the hammer with him. The hammer was found by police under a bed at his mother’s address.

In a victim impact statement, read to the court by Mr Bunch, the man said he works in the shop on Silksworth Terrace to support his family, which includes his three children.

The dad-of-three said: “I can’t understand why anyone would do this to me.

“He struck me to the head with a hammer and there is only one desired outcome when you hit someone on the head with the hammer – to kill.

“My face is scared for life and I suffer severe migraines. I now live in fear of my life.”

The court in Newcastle heard how Brown was living on the other side of the River Wear at the time, in the Roker area.

A staff member had recorded how he had returned to the location during the course of the day.

Mr Bunch told the court how he was challenged about his level of intoxication and denied he had been drinking.

He said a witness saw blood on the side of his head and, when she asked him about it, he replied: “It’s not mine, it’s blood splattered off someone else”.

Mr Bunch said the witness went on to ask “Are they alright?” and “You haven’t done something stupid?” He said: “He did not reply but smirked when asked that question.”

Brown, of Harbour View, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. The court heard how he has no previous convictions.

Robin Patton, defending, told the court how Brown lost his father when he was 13. He said that the defendant left home at the age of 16.

He added: “He’s been drifting around people that think it’s clever to take drugs and act in that way. At a party he’s taken something and he’s ended up behaving in a way he’s never behaved before.”

Recorder Simon Goldberg KC said: “In my judgement this was a savage attack against an entirely innocent man who was simply going about his job. I entirely accept it must have been terrifying for him and I accept it left him fearful every time anyone comes into the shop.”

He sentenced Brown, who appeared in court via a video link to Durham Prison, to six years behind bars.

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