A THUG who robbed a security guard in broad daylight at a supermarket car park has been jailed after claiming he was “possessed” at the time.

Jamie Sherfield, of Viceroy Court, Stanford-le-Hope, targeted the security guard in an Asda car park - hitting him over the head, snatching a cash box, and fleeing in a BMW. 

The security guard, who was uninjured after the incident, caught a glance of the number plate and recited it to police when he called 999.

Jailed - Jamie Sherfield will spend two years in prisonJailed - Jamie Sherfield will spend two years in prison (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

The incident took place at Asda in Turner Road, Colchester, at 12.30pm on Saturday, March 30, when he shouted “give me the box”.

Sherfield, 40, later admitted one charge of robbery.

Emma Kutner, prosecuting, said the cash box had only £300 inside.

She said: “As Mr Hoy was walking back to his vehicle, he noticed Sherfield wearing an orange hi-viz jacket.”

When Sherfield shouted “give me the box”, Mr Hoy thought it was a joke.

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But the defendant, who was on licence, repeated the demand before robbing the security guard.

Sherfield was taken to Colchester police station by car and told officers: “I know what I’m about - I’m a stupid boy.

“I ****ing drove down to Essex for no reason to see my pal and thought, ‘let’s ****ing do this’.”

Getaway - the car Jamie Sherfield escaped in after the robberyGetaway - the car Jamie Sherfield escaped in after the robbery (Image: Essex Police)

 

Emma Range, mitigating, said Sherfield had been engaging with probation and was two weeks away from completing a course which would have secured him a job working on the railways.

She said: “He describes having been ‘possessed’ after taking alcohol and drugs - he threw everything away.”

When Sherfield, 40, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday, he then tried to correct Her Honour Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley by suggesting he should serve a longer jail term than the two he was about to be sentenced for.

He said: “If it’s four years, you’ve got to serve two-thirds, I believe.

“I thought because it’s a robbery... it’s quite serious isn’t it.

“I was under the impression you had to serve two-thirds of a sentence.”

Her Honour Judge Talbot-Hadley passed a four-year sentence, telling Sherfield he would serve half.