A Cardiff man who attempted to steal hundreds of pounds’ worth of clothing from a popular sports retailer threatened staff and bystanders with chilling violence, a court has heard. The incident unfolded on the afternoon of May 13, when Nicholas Bishop, aged 40, targeted the JD Sports branch in the city, taking a significant haul of Under Armour branded garments worth an estimated £720.
Witness accounts delivered during a sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court revealed how Bishop’s brazen theft quickly escalated. After he left the store without making any effort to pay, shop employees and concerned members of the public acted swiftly, attempting to detain the fleeing suspect. It was at this point, the court was told, that Bishop turned aggressive, allegedly issuing explicit threats whilst implying he was armed.
According to prosecutor Kathryn Lane, Bishop brandished what appeared to be a weapon, thrusting his hands into his trousers and producing an object. Those present believed it could have been a knife, fuelling panic and forcing many to back away. During the confrontation, Bishop was reported to have said, “I am going to fill you with holes”—a menacing statement which left staff and bystanders fearing for their safety.
He compounded his threats further by saying, “I have got a knife, I am going to stab you. Do you want to be stabbed?” Despite the intimidating situation, Bishop managed to leave the scene. However, police apprehended him just three days later, on 16 May, and found him in possession of a blister pack of Valium, a prescription-only class C controlled drug.
Bishop, who resides on Horle Close in Grangetown, later appeared before the court, where he pleaded guilty to charges including affray, theft, and possession of a class C substance. The court heard that while he claimed not to have actually produced a knife, and insisted he did not possess one, his conduct during the incident had nonetheless caused significant distress to those involved.
In his defence, barrister David Pinnell informed the court of Bishop’s ongoing struggle with substance abuse, emphasising that drug dependency lay at the core of his repeated offending. Pinnell told the court that his client recognised the urgent need to address these personal issues, expressing a desire for support and rehabilitation.
Presiding Judge Vanessa Francis took a firm stance, admonishing Bishop for his actions and highlighting the unacceptable risk and trauma inflicted upon retail staff, who had merely been carrying out their duties. “You are a grown man, you have been given opportunity time and time and time again,” Judge Francis stated, lamenting the defendant’s pattern of offending and his failure to seize opportunities to reform.
The judge was clear in her condemnation, underscoring that shop workers should never be subjected to fear or violence while on the job. “You should never treat shop staff in this way, as they are just doing their jobs,” she told Bishop, before passing a custodial sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment.
The case brings renewed focus to the dangers faced by retail employees, a group often at the forefront of confrontations with offenders, especially regarding shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. Industry representatives and worker unions have long called for tougher measures and stronger protections for staff, noting the rise in such threatening incidents in recent years.
Bishop’s sentencing closes another troubling chapter in the ongoing challenge facing retailers and law enforcement. The incident has prompted a local conversation around crime, mental health, and the responsibilities of both individuals and wider society to address root causes like addiction. While justice has now been served in the courts, the memory of that day—a simple attempt at theft spiralling dangerously out of control—continues to echo among Cardiff’s shop staff and community.