Police have welcomed the imprisonment of a prolific thief and robber who ripped off a shopworker’s fingernails while trying to get away with some of his ill-gotten gains.

As reported in The Northern Echo, earlier this week, Liam Edward Smith is starting a prison sentence of more than four-and-a-half years for a summer spree of retail crime in County Durham, most committed while at large, the subject of a bench warrant for his arrest.

Among his spate of offending, Smith committed robberies at two shop premises in Bishop Auckland in July.

Durham Crown Court heard he was involved in struggles with lone female shop workers at each premises, while trying to prise tobacco products from the grasp of both.

(Image: Durham Constabulary/Google Street View) During one of the confrontations, one of the shop workers lost both an actual fingernail and a synthetic nail while trying to hang on to Smith’s hood, as she was lifted off the ground by him.

In the other case the assistant also suffered soreness to her arm as Smith prised four tobacco pouches from her, having gone behind the counter to select his booty.

The court heard both women, who consider themselves experienced shop workers, were shaken by their ordeals and were left slightly less confident in their public-facing role.

Smith’s activities were brought to a halt with the help of a store security guard and an off-duty police officer, who struggled with him and managed to detain him until uniform officers arrived at the scene, at Sainsbury’s in St Helen Auckland, on August 10.

He had been initially challenged over the suspected theft of £60 of razor blades, which he took with the help of two female accomplices.

Having been in custody since his arrest, on August 10, the 27-year-old defendant, formerly of Esh Winning, admitted six counts of theft, two of robbery, plus assaulting an emergency worker and assault by beating, after being linked to the various crimes through CCTV footage at each premises.

He received a total prison sentence of 54 months and two weeks at the court, on Wednesday (September 25).

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Stephen Cattin, who led the investigation, said: “This incident was understandably distressing for the victims.

“It just shows how little regard Smith has for people or property.

“We are glad he has been put behind bars.”