A Carlisle shoplifter has admitted producing a screwdriver while being pursued by a member of staff moments after he stole groceries.
David Scott Pattinson, 31, was originally charged with robbery after an incident outside Blackwell Road’s Co-op store in Currock at around 9.10pm on Easter Sunday.
Pattinson had stolen alcohol, meat and other items from the shop before an incident outside the premises involving an employee.
When he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this afternoon, Pattinson, of Baird Road, pleaded not guilty to robbery but admitted both affray and the illegal possession of a screwdriver in a public place. This was later seized from his coat pocket.
“He used it in a threatening manner,” said prosecutor Gerard Rogerson, “as (the staff member) followed him out of the shop.”
Pattinson had been walking backwards at the time. No violence had been used or threatened during the theft, said Mr Rogerson, making the guilty plea to affray — instead of robbery — acceptable to the prosecution.
Pattinson, along with a second man, 38-year-old Dale Graham, also admitted stealing a Lexmoto 125cc scooter valued at £1,700 belonging to a different man, several hours earlier on Easter Sunday. This was taken from the St Nicholas retail park, off London Road.
During an earlier court hearing, Pattinson had pleaded guilty to two other shoplifting offences having stolen smart televisions on April 15 and April 16.
Pattinson and Graham, of no fixed address, will be sentenced for their respective offending by a judge at the crown court on a future date.
In the meantime the pair will remain remanded in custody.
