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A further charge of possessing cannabis was also withdrawn at a Ballymena Magistrate’s Court sitting.
Store owner Eugene Diamond recalled the February incident on social media and expressed his surprise at the outcome.
“On a Sunday morning in February a man came into the shop and demanded the takings from me I refused and he was arrested and appeared in court this past week.
“My business closed for four hours that morning and it was a bit of a shock this was the outcome in court.”
Among the many replies on Twitter, member of the C-Store Collective consultancy John Heagney, wrote: “This is crazy Eugene, the CPS/Judiciary are out of touch and what message does this send out to other like minded people.”
Belfast Books replied to Diamond: “Shocking but not surprising. We’d an individual harassing us and making threats to kill in front of witnesses and he got nothing, not even a caution.”
The news follows a Home Office promise of more resources and time to be dedicated to tackle reported offences, including shoplifting, where there is a ‘reasonable lead’, such as CCTV footage or eyewitness accounts.
Several retailers expressed scepticism over home secretary Suella Braverman’s pledge.
Related news:
Police pledges to act on all crimes welcomed by independent retail body
BIRA reacts to Home Office ‘back-to-basics’ retail crime promise
Union calls for retail crime to be taken seriously amid 23% shoplifting increase
