Man dressed as Joker wielded knife in supermarket robbery

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 00:44 · Archive

A man with his face painted as the Joker threatened supermarket staff with a knife during a robbery.

Peter Braithwaite robbed a Morrisons supermarket in the Viking Centre in Jarrow on 8 July at around 3.15pm. When female staff members told him he should pay for a trolley of groceries he was pushing, he responded by saying 'speak to your manager' and winking. As a male security staff member approached, Braithwaite produced a folding knife with a six-inch blade and threatened staff, saying things such as 'do you want to get stabbed' and 'do you want to die'.

He had his face painted as the Joker, the Batman character. According to the prosecution at Newcastle Crown Court, staff backed away in fear as Braithwaite pointed the knife towards them. He then pushed the trolley of groceries out of the shop and towards his home nearby. When a neighbour asked what he was doing, he stared at him but did not reply. Police found the knife and stolen groceries at his home.

A female member of staff said in a victim impact statement that the robbery had negatively affected her, causing her anxiety and stress. She said she now fears dealing with male shoplifters, describing how frightening Braithwaite's painted face had looked with his eyes bulging.

How it is being reported

• Tyneside armed robber with face painted as Batman villain Joker brought terror to MorrisonsPeter Braithwaite was a frightening sight as he brandished a knife with his face painted as the Batman character at a Morrisons storeChronicleLive · 29 Oct, 00:19
• Watch as an armed robber dressed as The Joker causes terror in Jarrow’s MorrisonsAn armed robber pulled out a knife while dressed as The Joker in Jarrow’s Morrisons supermarket.Shields Gazette · 28 Oct, 14:48

In this story: Peter Braithwaite · Morrisons · Jarrow · Tyneside · Newcastle Crown Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log