Wolverhampton Shops Raider Jailed for Six and a Half Years After Knife and Machete Attacks
A thief who repeatedly targeted the same stores in Wolverhampton, threatening staff with a knife and a machete, has been jailed for six and a half years. Steven Baker, aged 46, carried out a series of raids on convenience shops along Cannock Road, leaving employees traumatized and businesses suffering financial losses.
Series of Armed Robberies on Cannock Road
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Baker visited the One Stop store on Cannock Road three times between June 25 and July 8 last year. During the first incident, he produced a Stanley knife, causing staff to freeze in fear as he stole items including coffee and cheese. The store manager had already identified him as a prolific shoplifter.
On his next visit, he charged past staff, taking goods worth £70. During his final visit on July 3, he told employees this would be his last robbery before taking random items such as meat. He pinned the manager under a fridge door, shoving her with his full body weight when she attempted to intervene.
Escalation to Machete Attack and Further Thefts
The same day, Baker committed another robbery at Tesco Express on Cannock Road, loading his bag with meat valued at £60. He returned two days later, stealing £68 worth of energy drinks, coffee, and a tube of Pringles. Three days later, he entered Elvira Local Stores on Cannock Road, wielding a machete and demanding the shopkeeper open the till.
Footage shown in court depicted Baker slamming the machete on the counter and striking the shopkeeper on the arm during a struggle. He dropped the weapon and left empty-handed. His final trip to Tesco Express two days later involved loading a bin bag with meat and a 12-pack of beer, totaling £85 in value. He was identified by staff and arrested by a police officer on mobile patrol.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Baker, appearing via video link from Birmingham Prison, had admitted to two counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, two counts of possession of a knife or blade, two counts of theft from a shop, and possession with intent to supply. Victim impact statements revealed the high emotional toll on staff, with the One Stop manager expressing worry for colleague safety and uncertainty about Baker's actions.
The owner of Elvira Local Stores described being frightened of severe injury. Business impact statements from Tesco Express and Greggs on Cannock Road highlighted reputational damage, as customers were scared, and financial losses from replacing stolen stock.
The court learned that Baker had an unhappy childhood and was a drug abuser, factors that contributed to his crimes. He has 49 convictions for 100 offences dating back to 1996, including drugs, theft, and weapon possession, with his last offence prior to these incidents occurring in 2002.
Judge's Remarks and Final Sentence
Recorder Joanne Barker stated that the impact on shop staff had been immense, necessitating a sentence at the high end of the scale. She imposed a 34-month jail term for the lead offence of robbery and 22 months for attempted robbery. For three offences of possessing a bladed article, he received 12 months for each, with one to run consecutively and two concurrently. For six other thefts, he was given two weeks for each to run concurrently, and for possession of Class B drugs, 22 months to run concurrently.
