Tried to bite staff after stealing shoes

Serial shoplifter tried to cut off tags with scissors

A 27-year-old serial shoplifter took a pair of scissors to a Perth store to cut security tags from items she intended to steal.

But when she was seen acting suspiciously she brandished them at staff, Perth Sheriff Court was told this week.

Terri McKenzie, who was on drugs at the time, also tried to sink her teeth into one of the security guards.

The incidents, which took place in Sports Direct in the St Catherine’s Retail Park, led to her being jailed for a total of 18 months when she appeared on indictment on Wednesday.

Imposing the prison term, Sheriff Gillian Wade noted the accused hadn’t simply just taken the scissors to the store.

“She actually used them as a weapon,” the court was told.

Noting that the accused was at “maximum risk” of re-offending, the sheriff told her: “Public protection has to be considered.”

McKenzie, of Dumbryden Gardens, Edinburgh, admitted stealing a pair of trainers from the store on February 16 last year, while subject to a January 2 bail order from the Perth court.

She also pled guilty to being in possession of an offensive weapon - the scissors - and brandishing them at Liam Dawson and Robert Grant. She also tried to bite Mr Dawson.

She further admitted a fourth charge of being in possession of the scissors in the Brantano store in the retail park the same day.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said her client is currently serving a 15-month prison sentence at Polmont but that was subject to an appeal, scheduled to be heard on January 31.

“She’s not had the best upbringing but she continues to remain stable on a methadone programme while in Polmont.”

The lawyer was hopeful that if the appeal was successful, a drug treatment and testing order could be imposed.

Sheriff Wade noted that the accused has a “long history of shoplifting” and she added: “Clearly your offending has reached a serious level.

“You now find yourself on indictment and you are using the scissors as a weapon on innocent members of the public.

“I don’t see there’s any alternative to a period of imprisonment.”

She jailed McKenzie for fourand-a-half months on each of the four charges, to run consecutively to one another.