A SHOP assistant has relived the horrifying ordeal which saw him struck on the head repeatedly during a daylight robbery.

Just days after Garry William Addison (36), of St Helen’s Gate, Hexham, was sentenced to a total of three years in jail for robbing Peggs newsagents, on Priestpopple in the town, shop worker Craig Reid (25), of Stonehaugh, near Wark, spoke out about the terrifying incident.

On October 9, Craig intervened when Addison tried to leave the shop without paying for four cans of lager. Addison turned violent and punched Craig repeatedly to the head – which was captured on CCTV.

Addison had entered the newsagents moments after punching a man in the nearby Mr Ant’s bar, knocking the man from his seat. He then robbed Peggs and assaulted Craig, before making off with just one can of beer.

Police tracked Addison down but an officer was kicked and punched by the 36-year-old, who was tasered and subsequently arrested.

Craig was badly shaken by the robbery, but considered himself lucky to have only sustained minor injuries.

He said: “I recognised he was going to try to take the cans without paying, and my initial reaction was to stop him. It was definitely the first time where people have used physical force, and that was a huge shock to the system.

“I’m a bit more cautious now working in the shop, but you can’t afford to let it affect you too much.”

Craig, who has worked at both the Peggs and Cookes newsagents in Hexham for the past 18 months, said he was thankful to customers for their well wishes since the attack.

He said: “Thank you to all the locals that came in and helped me getting through the first few weeks.

“It was a shock and you do have a drop in confidence, but the customers have been so supportive over the last five months.”

At Newcastle Crown Court last Thursday, 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. He had pleaded guilty to all four charges at an earlier hearing.

Following the sentence, Supt. Andy Huddleston, of Northumbria Police, said: “This has been an awful incident which has understandably been very traumatic for those who work in the newsagents and for those he assaulted, including one of our police officers.

“Our officers come to work knowing there is an element of danger and risk, but this mindless assault on an officer is wholly unacceptable and this man needs to learn from his actions. He is now behind bars and I hope it gives some reassurance to the community and those affected that we will take action to keep our communities safe.”