At about 4pm on 27 August 2024, five days after his release from prison, Ashley Burt, now 41, entered Stokes Croft Pharmacy in Bristol.
He asked to speak to the pharmacist, but he left when he was told the pharmacist was not free.
He returned 15 minutes later. Now that he was available, the pharmacist agreed to provide a consultation and moved from behind the counter to the customer area to facilitate it.
As he did so, the court heard that Burt grabbed him from behind and put a hypodermic needle to his neck, then told the pharmacist he would infect him with AIDS unless he was given methadone.
Challenged
Another patient in the pharmacy immediately exited the pharmacy and alerted a group of nearby workmen, who entered the pharmacy and challenged Burt, who dropped the needle and left.
Police later identified Burt from CCTV footage, and he was arrested in the early hours of the following morning.
He originally pleaded guilty on 17 January 2025, but appealed the length of his sentence.
Previous
During his appeal, the court heard Burt had 49 convictions for 95 offences over a 20-year period between March 1999 and February 2019.
These include seven offences against people, 24 offences against property, 30 theft and kindred offences, and two offences relating to firearms or offensive weapons.
On 21 February 2019, again at Bristol Crown Court, he was convicted of one offence of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
On 22 August 2024, having served half the sentence, he was released on licence.
Five days later, he headed for the Stokes Croft Pharmacy in Bristol.
After hearing the appeal on 28 July 2026, the judge imposed a custodial term of four years and eight months, and imposed an extended licence period of four years.
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