Man jailed after assaulting Worthing Morrisons security guard with stolen vodka

A man has been sentenced to prison after assaulting a security guard with a stolen bottle of vodka during a robbery at a Morrisons store in Worthing. Michael Stanley entered the Newland Road supermarket, took the bottle without attempting to pay, and struck the security guard when challenged, causing injuries including to the victim’s eye.

Stanley, of Glamis Road, Bognor, admitted robbery and was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on July 20 to two years and three months in prison. He was also made subject to a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim. The robbery took place on May 1, 2025. In an impact statement, the victim said he was forced to take time off work and feared his sight had been permanently impaired.

Speaking after the case, Chief Inspector James Davidson said the incident was a shocking attack on a security guard carrying out his duties. He said violence and abuse should not be regarded as part of the job for retail workers, that Sussex Police takes such reports seriously, and that officers will continue working with retailers and partners to identify offenders and pursue prosecutions.