Henry Evans Jailed: CCTV Shows Taser Threat at Tesco, Trumpington 2026

Key Points

• Henry Evans, 53, of Monkswell, Trumpington, Cambridge, threatened a Tesco Express worker with a device resembling a Taser before stealing about £150.
• The robbery happened at Tesco Express on Chesterton High Street, Cambridge, in May 2026.
• Weeks earlier, Evans stole nearly £200 of alcohol from supermarkets across Cambridge and damaged a vehicle barrier at the Grafton Centre.
• Cambridgeshire Constabulary released CCTV footage of the robbery.
• At Peterborough Crown Court on 17 July 2026, Evans was jailed for three years and two months after admitting robbery, three counts of theft from a shop, and criminal damage.

Trumpington (Cambridge Tribune) July 24, 2026 – Police have published CCTV footage showing the moment a man threatened a shop assistant with a device resembling a Taser before taking cash from the till at a Tesco Express. Cambridgeshire Constabulary identified the offender as Henry Evans, 53, of Monkswell in uk/local/trumpington/">Trumpington, Cambridge, and said he made off with around £150 during the incident in May.

What happened at the Tesco Express on Chesterton High Street in May 2026?

According to details provided by Cambridgeshire Constabulary and reported by BBC News, Evans entered the Tesco Express on Chesterton High Street just before 8am on 24 May, where he approached the till and asked the shop assistant for help. As the employee moved towards the area behind the tills, Evans walked in his direction and pointed an object that looked like a Taser, telling the worker it would “cause him some serious damage” if he did not comply. The frightened assistant opened the till, and Evans then took approximately £150 in cash before leaving.

BBC News noted that police described the incident as a robbery and said the CCTV clip captured the threat and the moment cash was removed from the register. The force has used the footage to illustrate the nature of the offence as part of its public update on the case.

Who is Henry Evans and what other offences did he commit?

Cambridgeshire Constabulary said Evans, aged 53 and from Monkswell, Trumpington, had been involved in a series of offences in the weeks leading up to the Tesco robbery. In addition to the robbery, he admitted three counts of theft from a shop, which related to alcohol worth nearly £200 stolen from various supermarkets across Cambridge. He also admitted criminal damage after causing damage to a vehicle barrier at the Grafton Centre in Cambridge.

The combination of offences robbery, multiple shop thefts, and criminal damage formed the basis of the charges brought before Peterborough Crown Court.

What sentence did Peterborough Crown Court hand down on 17 July 2026?

On 17 July 2026, Evans appeared at Peterborough Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to robbery, three counts of theft from a shop, and criminal damage. Following his admissions, the court sentenced him to three years and two months in prison.

The sentencing concluded the criminal proceedings in this case, with the court recording convictions on all charged counts. Cambridgeshire Constabulary confirmed the outcome and the length of the custodial term in its public statement.

Why did police release CCTV footage of the robbery?

Cambridgeshire Constabulary released the CCTV footage to show the moment Evans threatened the shop assistant and to provide a clear visual record of how the robbery unfolded. By publishing the clip, the force highlighted the use of a threatening device and the subsequent taking of cash, reinforcing the seriousness with which such offences are treated.

The release of the footage also served to inform the public about the circumstances of the crime and the identity of the offender, following his conviction and sentencing.

What charges did Evans admit and what do they mean?

Evans admitted to one count of robbery, which in legal terms covers the use or threat of force to steal property. He also admitted three counts of theft from a shop, reflecting the separate incidents in which he took alcohol from supermarkets in Cambridge. In addition, he pleaded guilty to criminal damage for the harm caused to the vehicle barrier at the Grafton Centre.

These admissions removed the need for a trial on those charges and allowed the court to proceed directly to sentencing.

How did the investigation proceed from arrest to conviction?

The investigation began with the identification of Evans through police inquiries following the May incident at the Tesco Express. Cambridgeshire Constabulary gathered evidence, including CCTV footage from the store and accounts from the shop assistant, to build the case. Additional evidence related to the earlier thefts and the damage to the barrier was compiled to support the broader set of charges.

Once charged, Evans appeared at Peterborough Crown Court, where he entered guilty pleas to all counts. The court then imposed the custodial sentence of three years and two months.

Background to the development

The release of the CCTV footage and the subsequent sentencing follow a pattern in which Cambridgeshire police have sought to publicise robberies and shop thefts that involve threats or intimidation towards retail staff. In this case, the use of an object resembling a Taser elevated the incident from a simple theft to a robbery, carrying a higher sentencing range. The additional shoplifting offences and the criminal damage charge added to the overall seriousness of Evans’ conduct in the eyes of the court.

The sequence of events multiple thefts, damage to property, and then a threatened robbery provided the context for the cumulative sentence handed down at Peterborough Crown Court.

Prediction: how this development could affect retailers and shoppers in Cambridge

The sentencing of Henry Evans and the publication of the CCTV footage are likely to reinforce messages to retailers in Cambridge about the importance of robust security measures, including visible cameras, staff training on de-escalation, and clear reporting procedures after incidents. For shoppers, the case may increase awareness of the risks of opportunistic theft turning into more serious robberies, particularly in busy urban stores.

In practical terms, local retailers may review their till-area layouts, access controls, and alarm systems to reduce vulnerability to similar threats. Police and crime prevention teams may also use this case as a reference point when advising businesses on how to protect staff and reduce the likelihood of repeat offending in the area.