A robber threatened a shop manager with a syringe when he tried to stop him stealing boxes of chocolates.
Prolific thief Adam Sayers, who has 195 previous convictions, was already subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order due to him repeatedly stealing from shops. The order banned him from some retail premises and required him to leave when asked.
On February 9 this year, he went to a shop from which he was not barred, a One Stop in Roker, Sunderland. The manager became suspicious when he saw him piling up a large amount of boxes of chocolate bars in a basket.
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Matthew Bean, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court : "The manager approached him because of his concerns and when he went up to the defendant he indicated the police had been notified.
"The defendant responded by saying 'call the police, I don't give a s***'. He tried to move the basket away from the defendant and the defendant tried to take it back.
"He then shouted 'here man I've got a syringe' and produced one from his pocket and pointed it at him. He believed it would be used to injure him and he backed away.
"This allowed the defendant to leave the store with a quantity of stolen chocolates and he made off on a pedal bike."
The victim said in a statement read to the court: "This incident made me feel anxious, especially when at work. I feel as if I keep looking over my shoulder.
"I'm worried for my safety and for the safety of my colleagues at work. This sort of behaviour is disgusting and no one should have to put up with this at work."
Sayers, 34, of Franklin Street, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for three years and nine months.
Matthew Hopkins, defending, said: "He has a long history of drug problems which started after he suffered a personal bereavement as a child. He is still living with the consequences of that day, as is the community he lives in. That seems to be the root cause of his behaviour."
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