An aggressive shoplifter suddenly pulled out a knife and threatened a security guard after he was challenged while trying to make off from the store with stolen bottles of disinfectant.
Serial thief Arron Stuart later pretended that nothing happened during the frightening incident and that he had the knife with him only because he had been helping a friend with some carpeting. The knife confrontation left the guard badly affected and suffering sleep and confidence problems, Hull Crown Court heard.
Stuart, 25, formerly of Queen’s Road, Hull, but later in custody on remand, admitted possessing a lock knife and an offence of theft from a B&M store on September 25.
The court heard that Stuart went into the shop at St Andrew’s retail park, Hull, and stole some bottles of Flash disinfectant. During the theft, he pulled out a four-inch lock knife and pointed it at a security guard.
He left the store and got onto a bicycle before riding off towards Hessle Road. He was later identified and arrested.
During police interview, Stuart at first claimed that he could not tell officers anything about any incident because nothing had supposedly happened. He later admitted, however, that he intended to commit the offence but that he left the store without anything being said to him.
Stuart claimed that he could not remember the incident and could not remember a confrontation with the security guard, the court heard. He was shown photographs from the incident and he accepted that it was him who was shown in the pictures.
Stuart claimed that the knife was actually a key ring but he accepted that it had a blade. He claimed that he did not intend to threaten anyone with it and that the knife fell out of his pocket.
Stuart admitted that he was aware that it was against the law to carry an item with a blade. He claimed that the knife had been in his pocket because he had been doing some carpeting work at a friend’s house. Stuart had convictions for 27 previous offences, most of which were for theft-related matters.
The security guard later said that the knife incident involving Stuart had knocked his confidence and caused problems with his home life. It had affected his sleep and caused arguments with his partner.
Stuart was jailed for 16 months.