A man from Bristol robbed a pharmacy while armed with a knife and threatened staff before fleeing in a car with a woman and her child. Daniel Bennett, of Wedmore Vale in Bedminster has been jailed for six years and nine months with an extended three-year licence period after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article.
Natasha O’Driscoll, 34 of Old Gloucester Road, Winterbourne was also given a 12 month community order and hit with a fine after pleading guilty to assisting an offender and neglect of a child under 16. On Friday, March 7, Bristol Crown Court heard how 41-year-old Bennett entered a pharmacy in Winterbourne armed with a knife.
He forced members of staff to the back of the store and threatened them unless he was given medication. Bennett then fled the scene in a car which was driven by O’Driscoll. There was also a child in the getaway car who was leaning out of the passenger window.
Police located and stopped O’Driscoll and found a large amount of prescription drugs in her car, but Bennett was not with her. Bennett was then found in the car park of a pub nearby where police found him with a knife and quantity of prescription drugs.
None of the pharmacy staff were injured during the robbery but were left shaken by the incident. One of the victims said: “I was on my lunch break when I heard the commotion. I grabbed my bag and phone and walked behind the guy who was holding my colleagues at knifepoint. I made it out and called the police.
“I stayed in work until the following Thursday but I had to take time off work due to lack of sleep, because I was getting flashbacks to what happened. This is not something any of us will be able to get over. We feel unsafe and I will always be looking over my shoulder.”
Officer in the case, DC Craig Bennett, said: “Bennett’s actions that day were reckless and dangerous. He appeared to give no thought for how his behaviour would harm those around him, he was focused on stealing those prescription drugs for his own benefit.
“The victims have been left feeling vulnerable and fearful following the incident and I have to commend them for the strength they have shown in supporting our investigation. O’Driscoll acted as the getaway driver for Bennett’s scheme, but she not only endangered her own life, but also that of a child’s.”