DRUNK TEEN SHOPLIFTER STABBED STORE BOSS
16-YEAR-OLD’S VICTIM FEARED HE WAS GOING TO DIE
A 16-YEAR-OLD has admitted stabbing a Co-op store manager when confronted as he tried to steal beer.
The youth, who was drunk, then tried to take beer at a second store in Blaby, threatening people who tried to stop him.
A SHOP manager thought he was going to die when a drunken 16-year-old shoplifter stabbed him.
The victim feared he would never see his family again as he was being given a blood transfusion in the ambulance on the way to hospital, Leicester Crown Court was told.
The stabbing, at the Co-op in Lutterworth Road, Blaby, was witnessed by staff, shoppers and children.
The out-of-control teen then made his way to the nearby McColl’s convenience store in Western Drive, to try to steal beer.
The defendant, who has since turned 17, but is still a juvenile, cannot be named because of a court order.
He admitted unlawfully wounding the Co-op manager as well as theft and robbery at McColl’s, on October 16 last year.
Adam Pearson, prosecuting, said: “The Co-op manager was alerted to a young man stealing a case of beer and apprehended him outside, bringing him to the ground.”
When they both stood up the defendant faced him and said “you’ll be sorry” before swinging at him with a knife, making contact with his abdomen.
The prosecutor said: “The manager thought he’d been punched but it was soon apparent he’d been stabbed.”
The defendant walked off along Lutterworth Road.
The victim needed stitches and was off work for five weeks.
In a personal impact statement, he described going into shock and fearing his body was shutting down.
Mr Pearson said: “He didn’t think he was going to make it in the ambulance, where he was given blood.
“It affected him much more deeply afterwards and he’s acutely aware of his surroundings and people approaching unexpectedly makes him uneasy.”
At McColl’s, a member of staff recognised the juvenile from an incident earlier in the day, when beer was stolen.
He helped himself to more bottles and as he was going out a woman shopper “bravely positioned herself at the door,” said Mr Pearson.
“She tried to prevent his escape but he produced the knife and told her he had mental health issues and threatened to stab her if she didn’t move.
The woman, who stood aside, later said she had never been so scared in all her life.
A man intervened outside and pushed the youth against a car, causing the bottles to smash.
The youth threatened to “kill everyone,” including an 11-yearold boy who had witnessed the earlier stabbing.
After his arrest a few hours later, the youth said he had not intended on stabbing anyone.
The knife was described in court as being similar to a Swiss Army knife.
The defendant was allowed to sit at the back of the court next to his mother, rather than in the dock.
Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: “What you did in October is serious enough.
“It may be you’re fortunate in having been caught in relation to this sort of offending in October.
“If you were 18 you’d now be going to prison for five years.”
The judge said the boy’s parents had done “everything they possibly could” to keep him out of trouble.
Patrick Maggs, mitigating, said: “He’s an extremely vulnerable young person with multiple and complex needs.”
Judge Dean said: “He’s at a crossroads and it’s imperative to protect others by providing him with help, support and guidance.”
The defendant received an 18-month youth rehabilitation order with a six-month intensive supervision and surveillance requirement.
He was placed on a three-month electronically monitored curfew between 9pm and 7am.