Man spared prison time over Wallingford Coral attempted robbery

But a judge spared Lee Karmios an immediate prison term after learning that the 34-year-old was a ‘conscientious’, hard-working dad who had been affected by the untimely death of a woman he regarded as akin to a ‘surrogate mother’.

Imposing 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, Recorder Paul Reid said: “The author of the pre-sentence report says this crime does not make sense.

“Well, there is something in that because this was an utterly bizarre thing for you to do.

“[It was] senseless, low-level violence in the course of trying to rob this lady in Coral bookmakers.”

Click here to sign up to the Crime and Court newsletter (Image: Newsquest)

The court heard that Karmios was captured on CCTV bumbling around Wallingford town centre on the evening of November 15 last year.

Shortly after 8pm, he walked into Waitrose and walked out without paying for the £8.50 sandwich and drink he had swiped from the shelves.

Fuelled by his filched food, Karmios walked down Market Place, past Coral and on to Feathers Yard.

As he returned to Market Place he grabbed a bin bag, which he used as a door stop to prevent the door to the bookmaker’s from closing behind him.

With his hood up, he shouted at the woman behind the counter: “Give me the f***ing money, you ****.”

He tried to jump over the counter but was shoved backwards by the Coral staff member, who told him in robust terms to get out of her shop.

Karmios slipped on the counter, made a ‘gesture’ that sent a bottle of sanitiser tumbling towards the woman then ran out of the shop empty handed.

The police were alerted by an alarm at the betting shop. Searching Wallingford town centre, they found the defendant in a nearby park.

Bizarrely, he was said to have gone up to the police car and asked: “Who’s been robbed?”

The robber was ‘obviously drunk’ and fell into a bush before being arrested, the court heard.

READ MORE: 'No evidence' sex offender has fled abroad, say cops

Karmios, of Old Timber Yard, Cholsey, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and shop theft. He had a previous conviction for robbery in 2010, the court heard.

Mitigating, Emma Hornby said that, since her client was released from prison in 2012 he had remained out of trouble and turned his life around.

He was a self-employed construction worker, had two children and was described by the boys’ mother as an ‘amazing’ father.

He was said to have been affected by the death of a close family friend – described as his ‘surrogate mother’ – who had helped him when he was released from prison a decade ago.

As part of his 18-month suspended sentence, Karmios must complete up to 150 hours of unpaid work, 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £350 in costs and compensation.