Robber stole a stranger’s gold necklace after attacking him in a South Shields chip shop
A robber who used "gratuitous violence" and took a stranger's gold necklace during a shocking chip shop attack has been put behind bars.
Connor Wade and his accomplice, who has since died, first saw the victim in a newsagents at Westoe in South Shields, in April 2023.
Newcastle Crown Court heard after a brief discussion about his name, one of the attackers, who had thought he was called something else, punched him.
Prosecutor Omar Ahmad said: "He paid the shopkeeper and left. The defendant and (the other man) continued attacking him as he left the shop, punching him and calling him a n*nce."
The court heard the men followed and attacked the victim as he ran into a nearby chip shop, where the violence continued.
Mr Ahmad said: "They continued to punch and kick him repeatedly and the pair ripped a gold chain necklace from his neck, which belonged to his late father."
The court heard the men had an axe with them but it was not used or produced during the attack.
The gold necklace was recovered after the pair were arrested.
Mr Ahmad said the victim had bruising under one eye, to the back of his neck, a burst lip and his nose bled heavily.
Wade, 25, of Cloverhill, Fellgate, who has a criminal record, admitted robbery and possessing a bladed article.
Robin Turton, defending, said the incident was "disgraceful" and added: "The defendant is ashamed of the way he behaved that day.
"He accepts full responsibility."
Mr Turton said Wade had been working at Nissan and stayed out of trouble for more than three years but has mental health difficulties, problems with emotional regulation and is "susceptible to be influenced".
Recorder Nathan Moxon jailed Wade for 30 months.
The recorder said CCTV from the chip shop showed Wade was a "active participant in the gratuitous violence towards him".
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