Not the sharpest! Knife-wielding teenager, 19, holds up his local kebab shop with a nine-inch blade – for a free bag of CHIPS
- Matthew Hawkins robbed Yummies Pizza and Kebab in Swansea, South Wales
- CCTV footage shows Hawkins hitting the knife on the counter demanding chips
- He was sentenced at court to three years in a young offenders institution
A knife-wielding teenager held up his local kebab shop armed with a nine inch blade just for a free bag of chips.
Matthew Hawkins, 19, banged the knife on the shop counter and told staff he would ‘cut’ them if they didn’t hand over the £1.60 chips.
CCTV footage shows Hawkins storming into Yummies Pizza and Kebab shop in Swansea, South Wales, demanding the chips.
Knife-wielding Matthew Hawkins, 19, held up his local kebab shop in Swansea, Wales, armed with a nine inch blade just for a free bag of chips
In the video, Hawkin storms into the kebab shop while waving the kife and says: ‘I want some free chips.’
A terrified staff member asks why, and Hawkins replies: ‘Because I said so. I’ve got a knife.’
Drunken Hawkins begins shouting at the server while making ‘stabbing motions’ and then bangs the weapon on the counter.
Staff try to placate him by saying he could pay for chips – but Hawkins shouts: ‘I want free chips. Hurry up or I’m going to cut you.’
He banged the knife on the shop counter and told staff he would ‘cut’ them if they didn’t hand over the £1.60 chips
The terrifying stand-off lasted 15 minutes before Hawkins walked out saying: ‘I’m going to f***ing rob next door – then I’m coming back for my chips.’
Craig Jones, prosecuting, said Hawkins went to the neighbouring Best One shop where he again brandished the knife before picking up items from the shelves, telling staff he was not going to pay for them.
The Yummies kebab shop worker had followed Hawkins out of his takeaway and closed the front door of the store to trap him inside until armed police arrived.
Hawkins was sentenced to a total of three years in a young offenders institution and made the subject of restraining orders banning him from contacting his victims for the next five years
Police found Hawkins banging on the front door, and shouting: ‘Give me my f***ing chips’.
Mr Jones said: ‘It was clear from personal impact statements from the victims that the whole experience had been a very frightening one.’
Hawkins, of Winch Wen, Swansea, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery and one of possession of a bladed article.
Swansea Crown Court heard he has no previous convictions.
Hywel Davies, defending Hawkins, said the defendant had learning difficulties, and struggled to understand the consequences of actions.
Judge Paul Thomas QC told Hawkins he must have ‘frightened the living daylights’ out of his victims by his drunken actions.
He said: ‘The courts have a duty to protect workers in small businesses who were vulnerable to such attacks.’
He sentenced him to a total of three years in a young offenders institution and made the subject of restraining orders banning him from contacting his victims for the next five years.