A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 13 years in prison following a series of robberies involving weapons, including a machete, authorities reported at Birmingham Crown Court. Theo Gottshalk admitted charges of robbery, possession of a knife, drug offenses, and carrying a firearm.

The incidents culminated in October last year when police tasered Gottshalk after cornering him inside a McDonald’s in Nottingham city centre. Body camera footage revealed a three-foot blade falling from his trousers after officers deployed the stun gun during a confrontation. The 19-year-old had been spotted on a bus before fleeing into the fast-food restaurant.

Court documents outlined that in the encounter, Gottshalk struggled physically with four officers before being subdued. Following his arrest, police discovered bags of cannabis on his person. Prosecutors further highlighted that six weeks prior to the McDonald’s incident, Gottshalk had threatened to sever a teenage victim’s arm during another mugging.

Alongside the Nottingham offence, Gottshalk admitted to two additional robberies committed in Birmingham in 2023 and 2024. He also acknowledged possession of a firearm in connection with his criminal activities.

Detective Constable Ben Grayson of Nottinghamshire Police described Gottshalk as “a danger to the public,” emphasizing the threat posed by his use of weapons during these crimes. The judge’s sentence reflects the severity of the offenses and the risk to community safety.