Birthday boy celebrated with Boots knife-point robbery and threats to 'cut man's throat'

Gavin McEwan grabbed a kitchen knife from a woman's flat before going searching for a vulnerable man and threatening to 'cut his throat' if he didn't hand over cash.

The 38-year-old left emptied handed but headed to Boots on Guisborough high street where he forced himself into the closing shop and threatened the manager with the kitchen knife before grabbing bottles of perfume and fleeing the scene.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court how McEwan was chased by police before being detained after he was incapacitated when he was hit twice with a Taser.

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Mr Newcombe said McEwan was acting 'irrationally' at the time and despite the women's protestations she was unable to prevent the defendant going on the rampage.

Gavin McEwan

The court heard how McEwan forced his way into the flat of the vulnerable man before making the threats with the knife.

He said: "The defendant made demands for money and said he would 'cut him up' if he didn't tell him the truth in ten seconds.

"He said he would cut the complainants throat."

After leaving the flat empty-handed McEwan headed to the Boots shop on Westgate and threatened the manager with the knife when he tried to stop him stealing perfume.

Mr Newcombe said: "He pointed it at the man and shouted 'don't f***ing move'. He then removed seven bottles of perfume worth up to £100."

McEwan, of Barnaby Place, Guisborough, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of a knife, affray and robbery following the incident.

Paul Abrahams, mitigating, said: "The offences happened on his birthday. He was heavily in drink and he doesn't understand why he behaved the way he did."

He told the court that McEwan had contracted Covid while on remand.

Judge Howard Crowson said: "I'm pleased that you are here and I hope you recover soon as it is an unpleasant illness."

Sentencing the defendant to four years in prison, he added: "It was a deliberate targeting of a vulnerable man in his own flat and you used a knife the threaten him."

His 20-week suspended sentence was also activated.