A Workington meat thief threatened a brave shop worker with violence after she challenged him about his shoplifting.
Phillip Holm, 41, pinched £90.75 worth of products from the town’s Iceland outlet on Pow Street, on September 17 last year.
After Holm left without paying and was taken to task outside by the shop assistant, a member of the public revealed he’d seen the thief hiding a carrier bag in a nearby alleyway.
The shop worker went to investigate. “It was there that there was a confrontation,” prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court. “To-ing and fro-ing, pulling of the bag containing the meat.”
Holm then waved his clenched fist at the woman, “making her feel, unsurprisingly, that she was going to be punched,” said Mr Evans. “She gave up the struggle. He rode off on his bike.”
Left shaken, the woman later spoke about how the incident had affected her. “I’m used to people stealing from the shop,” she said, “however, I have never met this level of aggression from anyone before.”
Holm admitted theft and affray, and had 37 past offences on his record including, added Mr Evans, the full gamut of dishonesty.
Sean Harkin, defending, said no violence had been actually used by Holm, of Harrington Road, Workington. In addition, the defendant’s offending had slowed down significantly in recent years.
That was acknowledged by Judge Nicholas Barker, who imposed an 18-month community order comprising up to 25 days’ rehabilitation work and a £300 fine.
