Man Sentenced for Hammer Attack in Village Store

A man has received a prison sentence following a hammer assault on an individual within a village shop. The person attacked, who is in his 60s, required hospitalization for two weeks subsequent to being robbed on 13 January in Oakthorpe, Leicestershire. Damian Mould, 38, whose address is not fixed, inflicted “significant” injuries upon the victim, according to police reports, before taking cash and alcohol. Mould was handed a 12-year prison sentence at Leicester Crown Court, having admitted guilt to two charges of robbery and one charge of burglary. An additional three years were added to his licence period upon his eventual release. Law enforcement officials stated that Mould was out on bail at the time, facing charges for a previous robbery that occurred at a garage located on Nottingham Road, Ashby, on 1 November 2023. This prior incident involved a staff member who was working the night shift. She observed a man, subsequently identified as Mould, positioned behind the till, removing cigarettes from the display cabinet. The police force indicated that the employee confronted Mould, who reportedly threatened her by claiming to possess a gun and instructed her to open the till. The victim was unable to access the till, and Mould then departed the scene. No injuries were reported in connection with this incident. Mould’s arrest took place inside a business establishment after police responded to a report of an intruder alarm being activated on Lower Church Street, Ashby. Following Mould’s sentencing on 31 October, PC Amy Aplin commented: “Mould had no regard for his victims while carrying out these crimes purely for his own gain.” She added: “Thanks to the support and co-operation of the victims, along with dedicated inquiries being carried out by response officers and the investigation team, Mould was left with no choice but to admit his crimes leading to this sentence.”