A shoplifter turned store robber in his desperation to feed and fund himself while at large from the police, earlier this year.

Homeless Liam Smith twice targeted lone female assistants in convenience stores as he attempted to forcibly take tobacco products.

Smith was also involved in a violent confrontation with a store security guard, who was assisted by an off-duty police officer, as he tried to steal razor blades from a Sainsbury’s store, while assisted by two female accomplices.

Durham Crown Court heard he was detained, but only when other officers arrived following a struggle lasting several minutes, on Saturday August 10.

(Image: Durham Constabulary/Google Street View) Smith, 27, formerly of Holborn Road, Esh Winning, has remained in custody since his arrest and at different court appearances since has admitted six counts of theft from shops, two counts of robbery from store workers, plus assault by beating and assaulting an emergency worker.

He appeared at the crown court sentencing hearing via video link from HMP Hull, where he has been remanded in custody for the last few weeks.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said the shoplifting offences took place at shops in Durham and Bishop Auckland between March and August and involved cheese and ham products, deodorants and shower gels, beef steaks and razor blades.

Mr Baker said during many of the offences, Smith was at large, the subject of a bench warrant for his arrest.

On both July 14 and 30, he became involved in struggles with lone female shop assistants, at Ali’s Store, on St Andrews Road, and at the Best One convenience store, in Princes Street, both Bishop Auckland.

In the first he grabbed £70-worth of cigarettes packets from the grasp of a female assistant, who lost actual and acrylic nails, as well as suffering a further hand injury.

Mr Baker said in the second Smith went behind the counter and stole four tobacco pouches after a struggle with a female assistant, who suffered a sore arm in the tussle.

Both experienced store workers were shaken by the incidents and said they were now far more anxious while at work than previously.

Smith was finally detained while on a further shoplifting mission, with two female accomplices, stealing £60-worth of razor blades, from the Sainsbury’s store in St Helen Auckland, on August 10.

The defendant, who appeared under the influence of “substances”, was detained by a store security guard and an off-duty police officer who were both injured in the several-minutes long struggle, before duty officers arrived to arrest the defendant.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Jane Waugh, for Smith, conceded, on his behalf, there would be no outcome other than a custodial sentence.

Miss Waugh said in neither robbery was the defendant carrying a weapon and both were relatively short-lived, albeit “unattractive”, incidents.

She told the court that at the time Smith was homeless following a row with his mother, but they have since reconciled, and he hopes, upon his eventual release, to go to live with her.

Miss Waugh said the money Smith made from shoplifting would have gone to pay for food, drugs and hotel rooms.

“At the time he was taking drugs, a little bit of cocaine and injecting heroin, but since he has been in custody he has worked with the prison drug and alcohol team, as well as with the mental health team, and he is now on a methadone script.

“He hopes, in time, to be able to get onto a drug recovery wing.”

She added that the defendant realises the life he has been living is not how he wants to proceed in future.

“This will be, by far, the longest sentence he will have served.

“He’s an articulate man and realises this is not what he wants to do with his life.”

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Judge Richard Bennett told Smith he used, “substantial force” in both robberies, causing each of the assistants “shock and pain”, while both the store security guard and off-duty police officer were also injured in tackling him.

The judge said the offending was aggravated by the fact the defendant was at large for much of it, knowing he was wanted, and due to his record for violence and other public order matters.

He passed consecutive prison sentences totalling 54 months and two weeks, a little more than four-and-a-half years, of which the defendant will have to spend up to half in custody before his release on licence.