Six years' jail for Shaun Havard for knife-point robbery at Tesco Express in Hythe

A MAN has been jailed for six years for a knifepoint robbery at a Hythe store, described by police as "particularly nasty".

Shaun Havard (35) was sentenced on Thursday at Southampton Crown Court having pleaded guilty to the incident which happened on 10th July.

The court heard how Havard, of no fixed abode, entered Tesco Express in Langdown Lawn at around 10.25pm and approached a staff member, before threatening them with a knife.

He demanded cash and cigarettes from another worker before fleeing the scene with a haul of stolen goods.

Initial police enquires led officers to an address on Maritime Avenue in Marchwood, the court was told.

Three people were found and detained in a vehicle, alongside a fourth in a nearby property.

A search of the vehicle and property uncovered cash and cigarettes linked to the robbery. They were seized by officers.

Havard pleaded guilty to robbery and threatening a person with a blade in a public place

After the hearing, Police Staff Investigator Jordan Clayton said: “This was a particularly nasty incident for those staff members who were implicated, and for those who witnessed the incident – and we wish to praise them for their bravery during the ordeal.

“Shaun Andrew Havard is now behind bars where he can no longer cause any harm or distress to those in the local community – with the judge handing down a significant sentence befitting of the offences committed.

“We hope that local residents can see that we take these offences very seriously and seek to bring people in front of the courts, with the support of the Crown Prosecution Service, in order for justice to be served.”

Paul Hughes (41), of Golden Grove, Southampton, and Catherine Goodwin (45), of Maritime Avenue, Marchwood, had been charged with robbery but the cases against them were dismissed at court by the judge.