Shoplifter threatened to smash bottle over security guard’s head

WOMAN WAS DETAINED BY GUARD AFTER CONCEALING STOLEN BOOZE

A BRAVE supermarket security guard managed to detain a thief who was armed with a bottle and threatening to glass him.

Prolific shoplifter Patricia Office was attempting to steal goods from a Morrisons store when she was confronted by the staff member.

A court heard that, when asked to hand over the stolen bottles of booze, the 36-year-old flew into a rage.

Holding one of the bottles, Office then threatened to glass and headbutt the victim but he bravely managed to detain her for five minutes while the police arrived.

The crook, who also had a needle in her pocket, was then arrested and found to be responsible for two further shop thefts from Boots and Matalan in the months prior.

The serial offender, who has more than 50 offences on her record, was due before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court last month but failed to show and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

She finally appeared in custody on Thursday, having pleaded guilty to a public order offence, two shop thefts and failing to surrender to the court.

Rehana Haque, prosecuting, said Office, of Bridge Road South, in North Shields, entered Morrisons, in Whitley Bay, shortly before it was due to close on March 2.

Known to staff in the store as a regular shoplifter, she was approached by the security guard and asked to leave. Reading from the victim’s statement, Mrs Haque said: “The security barrier alarm was set off, so I knew she was concealing something. I grabbed her backpack and I could hear bottles clink.

“She said ‘Let go of me or I will smash a bottle over your head.’

“I took hold of her and pulled her back into the store. She tried to get away. She put her hands on a bottle she had in the front of her pants.

“She said she would headbutt me and ‘f ****** glass me.’ I had to restrain her. I realised a knuckle on my left hand was bleeding. I detained her for five minutes while police arrived.”

The court was told that Office had also stolen cosmetics from Boots, in The Forum, in Wallsend, on February 9 and £313 worth of clothes from Matalan, in Killingworth, on November 9 last year.

Stuart Athey, defending, said Office had attended her court hearing last month but hadn’t been allowed in as she was drunk.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report and Office was released on conditional bail to next appear before the same court on May 24.

Patricia Office was detained by a security guard after shoplifting