A HEXHAM man has been sentenced to three years in jail after robbing a town newsagents in October.

Garry William Addison (36), who gave his address as St Helen’s Gate, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday to a total of 36 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to robbing Peggs News on Priestpopple, a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of assault by beating.

The court heard that, on Tuesday, October 9, last year, Addison was in the town's Mr Ant's bar when he punched a man to the side of the head, causing the man to fall of his seat.

Addison then went into the nearby newsagents and tried to steal four cans of beer.

When the shopkeeper confronted him, Addison became violent and picked the worker up by his shoulders and slammed him against a drinks fridge. 

Addison then subjected the shop keeper to a number of punches, including hitting him on the head with some beer cans. He left the shop with just one can of beer.

When police officers caught up with Addison, he became aggressive and punched one officer to the face. He was tasered and subsequently arrested.

Addison was sentenced to 31 months in prison for robbery and a further three months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was also sentenced to three months and two months for the two charges of assault by beating, to run concurrently.