A MAN has been jailed after a member of staff was stabbed and hurt at a shop in Shard End.
Reece Allen, of Heathland Avenue, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery, wounding, possession of a knife, theft, and assaulting an emergency worker.
West Midlands Police said it was called to a shop on Heathland Avenue in February following reports a man had been stabbed in the stomach and was taken to hospital.
He was not seriously injured, although he is still continuing his recovery.
During investigations Police discovered this was a robbery, where the 31-year-old had gone into the shop, taken cleaning products from the shelves, and then tried to leave without paying.
He was then confronted by the staff member but pulled a knife out, stabbed him, and escaped with the goods.
PC Nolan, from the Birmingham Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This was a completely unacceptable attack on a member of staff in a shop who was simply doing their job.
“Any assault on a shop worker is unacceptable, but for Allen to have used a knife makes this even more shocking.
“I am pleased that we were able to identify and arrest him quickly, and I thank the public for their help with this.
“Allen has also rightly been sentenced for assaulting one of our staff members whilst in custody – again something we never tolerate.
“We are pleased he will spend years behind bars and it is clear the severity of his crimes has been recognised.”
