Stephen Ross turned violent after staff caught him stealing items from behind the bar
Stephen Ross turned violent after staff caught him stealing items from behind the bar
A thief turned violent after being caught stealing items from behind a bar before arming himself with a sledgehammer from his garden shed and returning to brandish the weapon in the street. Stephen Ross punched, bit and tried to headbutt members of staff and stunned customers at Gin and Milk in Bromborough, Wirral.
The thug was also said to have attempted to smash the window of the premises using a fire extinguisher during the alarming and prolonged altercation. However, he has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Tuesday, that Ross attempted to steal goods from the bar in question at around 8pm on August 21 2024. When challenged by a member of staff, the 45-year-old responded by assaulting him by grabbing him around the neck, dragging him from behind the bar and hitting him, causing a split lip.
Louise Santamera, prosecuting, described how Ross then became aggressive towards members of the public who attempted to intervene, including an elderly couple. He even bit one man to the leg before punching out and attempting to headbutt others.
Ross, of Forwood Road in Bromborough, also attempted to pull a fire extinguisher from a wall and smash a window using the implement before hitting the glass several times, again striking an employee before leaving. Around half an hour later, while witnesses were being spoken to by police who had arrived at the scene in the interim, he was seen walking past the bar while swinging a sledgehammer above his head.
Officers gave chase and drew their batons as a result, at which stage Ross dropped the weapon. While he later claimed he had merely found the hammer, it was subsequently established he had returned home and retrieved the item from his shed before attending at the bar once more.
Ms Santamera added his actions had “caused serious alarm and distress” to witnesses and said: “There was use of a weapon to inflict violence, namely the fire extinguisher, and the incident was sustained. The prosecution say that there must have been an intention to cause fear of very serious violence.”
Ross has four previous convictions for five offences. Anna Duke, defending, told the court: “The defendant realises that this is an extremely serious case. The best mitigation has to be that the defendant stepped up to the mark in the lower court and pleaded guilty to both charges.
“It is quite clear that the defendant regrets what happened. The pre-sentence report refers to him being sorry, sickened and ashamed. He has no recollection what happened on the day in question.
“The defendant himself suffers with mental health problems. Unfortunately for him, he was not on the right medication at the time. Thereafter, he tried to self-medicate in relation to alcohol. He has had a difficult time in his life. This defendant has significant anxiety and depression.
“References speak of the man that he normally is, not the man on the day in question. Those references are important to put him into context as a person, in particular in relation to his partner. She struggles with her own physical and mental health issues. The defendant helps and supports her.
“I would submit that this is something out of character for this particular defendant. The defendant is lightly convicted. His last conviction was 10 years ago. He has no convictions whatsoever in relation to violence.
“This offence is now of some age, and there has been no suggestion whatsoever that the defendant has embroiled himself in anything of a similar nature. It would appear that he has done something of his own volition to try to improve his own condition. He has stopped abusing alcohol. He is now medicated.”
Ross admitted affray and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Appearing suited in the dock, he was handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Sentencing, Recorder Sarah Griffin said: “You are described as considerate, trustworthy and patient, a world apart from the man that can be seen on CCTV footage. You are a carer for your partner. I have read about your own difficult background. At the time of the offending, I have read that you took a high dose of your medication and also alcohol, and, after this offending, you were admitted to a psychiatric ward for a month.
“You went home and armed yourself with a weapon and returned approximately 30 minutes later. The offending was committed in circumstances where there was risk of serious disorder. This was a serious offence where you were aggressive to members of the public and those simply carrying out their jobs.
“You have been out of trouble for over a year-and-a-half. You have engaged with mental health services, and I am told that you are committed to not drinking again.”
Ross was also given 180 hours of unpaid work, a mental health treatment requirement and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 10 days. Having learned his sentence, he replied: “Thank you, your honour. Thank you.”
