Robber jailed three years (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Robber jailed three years

9:21am Monday 14th January 2008 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

A heroin addict who robbed a convenience store while armed with an extendible baton has been jailed for three years.

Lee Segelov launched the violent attack at the Bhatia store as he tried to grab a cash box which was sitting on a shelf.

And a few weeks later the 28-year-old broke into a house stealing electrical items and jewellery which he later sold to a fence for £500.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court how the robbery took lace shortly before 9.30pm on Monday October 15 last year.

She said Shahzah Ali was alone in the shop sitting behind the counter when Segelov entered and asked for ten cigarettes.

As he turned back he saw the raider lying across the counter and lashing out with a black rod which extended with a clicking noise ands nearly struck his face.

Mr Ali saw the defendant reach for the cashbox which was by the window so he grabbed it to stop him taking it.

But the plastic container opened spilling money across the counter and as Segelov tried to grab what he could the shopkeeper swept what he could back to his side of the counter.

He then took out a hockey stick which was close to the till and aimed at the robber but only managed to strike the ceiling and the till.

Segelov then fled from the shop a few seconds after entering and the whole event was caught on CCTV, which was shown in court.

Miss Marlow said a few weeks later on Monday November 26 the defendant broke into a house on Ferndale Road and took the jewellery and electrical goods.

Neighbours reported seeing a man matching Segelov's description hanging about that day and later putting items into a taxi before leaving the road.

The taxi took him to an address on Alexandra Road where he was arrested and he later told police it was where his "handler", who gave him £500 for the haul, lived.

Segelov, of Spindle Tree Court, Pinehurst, admitted robbery, burglary and the theft of a £45 top from Debenham's.

He also asked for five other domestic burglaries, two commercial burglaries and two more thefts to be taken into consideration.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client accepted he was facing a lengthy prison term for what he had done.

He said despite a history of petty crime his client had never been convicted of robbery or burglary in the past and was ashamed of what he had done.

"Once arrested he admitted that what you saw there on video was rock bottom," he told the court.

"Through me he wants to apologise again for putting anyone through what he has put them through."

The robbery had been impulsive, he said, as he had seen the cash box in the window as he walked past the store.

He said Segelov had almost always been in work but had recently developed a heroin habit which led to the offending.

Now aged 28 he said he realised he had to beat the addiction and come out of prison ready to lead an honest life.