Renton Harold Cox (35) armed himself with a knife when he entered Reid’s Pharmacy in April in an effort to obtain drugs so he could take his own life.
The attempted robbery left one pharmacy worker having to see a psychologist because of the impact the incident had on her.
Cox, who previously admitted two counts of possessing an offensive weapon, one count of attempted robbery and one of possessing a controlled drug, was jailed for four years by the Royal Court yesterday.
Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith said: ‘Despite the circumstances of the defendant he must expect a severe punishment for placing the staff in such fear.’
Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit told the court that staff at Le Quesne’s Chemist were concerned about Cox’s behaviour when he was hanging around outside on 20 April.
Five days later he returned and tried to buy items but his card was declined.
He hung around outside and one worker was so nervous that she stood by the panic alarm and then called the police.
Cox left the area. However, shortly after he was spotted by an officer near another pharmacy.
On speaking to Cox, the officer noted that he was carrying a large kitchen knife. During an interview he told the police he was carrying the knife ‘just in case he needed it’ as he had been threatened.
Also during the interview, Cox told officers he would ‘never rob a pharmacy’, despite not being asked about robbing a pharmacy.
Two days later, Cox went to Reid’s pharmacy armed with a knife.
Wearing a dark hoodie over his head and a scarf covering his nose and mouth, Cox entered the store and went behind the counter into a back room where a female staff member was working.
He pulled the knife out and said: ‘I don’t want any trouble but I want benzodiazepines.’
The staff member recognised Cox and told him he should not be doing this as he had two children.
Cox replied, ‘I’m not Renton Cox,’ before asking for other drugs, including fentanyl.
The staff member asked Cox to think about what he was doing, at which point he said: ‘Promise not to call the police and I will leave.’
After the incident the staff member said: ‘I honestly thought he could potentially stab me if he needed to.’
Two days later Cox was arrested at Little Grove clinic and was found to be in possession of diazepam.
Advocate Maletroit said it was a pre-planned robbery and in a psychologist report Cox said prior to the incident he had taken excessive drugs and was ‘off his face’.
Given the seriousness of the offences, the advocate moved for a prison term of four years.
Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said: ‘Mr Cox appreciates the seriousness of the offending and that custody is a must.’
She said it was a ‘snap decision’ by her client who was having dark thoughts, was in ‘despair’ and wanted to try to get drugs to end his own life.
Advocate Dale also said her client wished to contact the female staff member through a letter to express his remorse and tell her that by mentioning his children during the attempted robbery, the woman had saved his life and he would ‘always be grateful’.
The Jurats in the case were Jerry Ramsden and Gareth Hughes
