Cheltenham man jailed for more than 7 years after robberies
Robert Hall targeted a newsagent and a bookmakers in Cheltenham
Last updated 15th Jan 2026
A 37-year-old man has been jailed for seven years and nine months after CCTV footage showed him assaulting an employee of a bookmakers before stealing several hundred pounds from the till.
Robert Hall, of Wellington Street, Cheltenham was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on 13th January after pleading guilty to multiple offences, including robbery and possession of a pointed and bladed article.
Hall’s offences included a robbery at a newsagent on Bath Road on 25th September 2025, where he stole £281 in cash and cigarettes.
He later targeted Paddy Power in Cheltenham town centre on 11th October 2025, stealing £500 from the till.
Police had been called to Bath Road in the town at around 9pm on Thursday 25 September with a report that an unknown man had entered a newsagent and threatened staff with a knife before stealing cash and cigarettes.
Police arrested Hall the day after the newsagent robbery, charging him with the offence.
He was remanded to appear at court but was later released by a Magistrate and not further remanded in custody.
Several weeks later, on Saturday 11 October, police were called to Paddy Power on High Street at around 8.10pm with a report that a man had climbed over the counter, assaulted a member of staff and stolen money from the till.
Officers identified and arrested Hall again, recognising him from the earlier encounter.
Trainers Hall wore during the Paddy Power robbery were seized, with their soles matching foot marks at the scene.
He was subsequently charged with the additional offences and pleaded guilty at his first court appearance.
During sentencing Hall admitted to three additional offences, including a robbery at a supermarket in August 2025. This was taken into consideration when he was sentenced.
In mitigation Hall's lawyer said that he has suffered with mental health disorders throughout his life following childhood trauma and began using drugs at a very young age.
It is believed that a relationship breakdown led to Hall using drugs again. The lawyer went on to describe how Hall owed drugs debt and this had influenced his behaviour last year.
A victim impact statement was not provided by the victim of the newsagent robbery however one was gained as part of the investigation into the robbery at Paddy Power.
This detailed the impact of Hall's offending with the statement saying:
"The evening of the attack I believe I was in shock. Everything happened so quickly I do not believe I had time to process it all.
"I believe I didn’t feel the extent of the damage that had been done to me because of the shock and adrenaline from the event.
"People kept telling me that I should go to hospital because of the amount of times I was hit to the head but I think I was in too much shock to do anything.
“Mentally this has taken a huge toll on me, and I had to get in touch with a counsellor as I have been reliving the attack over and over.
"I am so scared of working by myself or something like this happening again, I just constantly think of the worst. I love my job at Paddy Power, and I would love to go back to work however at this time I am unsure whether I will be able to do so."
PC Callaghan from the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Local Policing Area said: "Hall's actions caused considerable distress for the employees of the premises that he targeted, and I am pleased that he has now been put behind bars.
"I hope this outcome shows how Gloucestershire Constabulary won't tolerate this type of behaviour."
Hall was ordered to pay surcharges and must serve up to half of his sentence before being considered for release on licence.