A shoplifter who threatened staff with a needle claiming he was infected with Aids has been locked up.

Darren Taylor used the syringe in a desperate attempt to evade capture after he was caught trying to steal booze from Sainsbury's.

The 32-year-old appeared in court in connection with a string of shoplifting offences committed in April and May this year.

Rachel Master, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that Taylor was confronted by Sainsbury's staff after he was spotted hiding bottles on alcohol on him before making off.

She said: “He told staff he was armed with a needle and that he had Aids and threatened to stab them. Two staff members saw him put his hand in his pocket and produce a needle.

“At this point he made off. Staff contacted the police and a pursuit occurred with them and he repeated the threats to stab them and he started to throw away bottles of alcohol.”

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Miss Masters said Taylor was also caught shoplifting from Wilkos on a number of occasion when he stole cleaning products and air fresheners. He was also caught on CCTV stealing £200 worth of chocolate from Iceland.

The court heard how the defendant was caught breaking into the boot of car but was apprehended by the vehicle owner before his arrest.

She said he had 25 convictions for 78 offences, mainly for shop thefts and dishonesty.

Taylor, Thornaby Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to six shop thefts, theft from a vehicle, and possession of a pointed article.

Simon Walker, in mitigation, said his client had accrued a significant number of convictions on a relatively short period of time.

He added: “They coincide with a period when he became addicted to Class A drugs which have taken entirely over his life.”

Judge Howard Crowson jailed Taylor for 14 months for all offences.

He said: “Your record in recent times has been of persistent dishonesty but no weapons offences, the syringe is a weapon and this was a prolonged incident with at least one the people threatened speaks of being very frightened.

“You have lots of other convictions but not for this type of offence, all of it was committed, including this one with the syringe, because of a Class A drug habit.”

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