Asda staff threatened with needles and bottle of wine in ‘frightening’ robbery

A man threatened Asda staff with needles and a wine bottle during a "frightening" robbery in Southampton, newly-released footage shows. Stuart Andrew Westwood, 38, of no fixed abode, entered the supermarket on Millbrook Road West and began filling a carrier bag with products on 21 January. He immediately became aggressive as staff approached and challenged him, and took several needles from his pocket and began threatening the shop workers, shouting phrases such as “Don’t touch me, I’ll stab you," a court heard. Westwood also grabbed a bottle of wine, held it above his head and ran towards the employees, threatening to use it as a club. He pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday (1 April). PC Sophie Wellstead, who led the investigation, said: "This was a frightening incident for the staff involved, who were simply at work when confronted by a man using needles and a glass bottle to threaten them."