Shoplifter pulls knife telling security officer he’d slit his throat
Bolton Greater Manchester England Jan 31 2018
A shoplifter who stole more than £1,000 worth of goods threatened to slit a security guard’s throat.
Drug addict Barry Griffin pulled out a lock knife after he was confronted outside the Boots store at Middlebrook by security guard Troy Ward.
At Bolton Crown Court Nicholas Flanagan, prosecuting, told how Griffin walked into the shop at 4.30pm on December 30 last year and began filling a foil lined bag with fragrances, gift sets, back packs and food.
The haul amounted to £1,000, but he was spotted by a member of staff, his actions captured on CCTV and security staff were alerted.
Fifteen minutes later 36-year-old Griffin walked out of the shop and was stopped by security guard Troy Ward.
The court heard how Mr Ward told Griffin to hand over the bag and leave or police would be called.
But, despite handing over the goods, Griffin became aggressive and staff backed away when he told them he had a knife.
Mr Flanagan said that when Mr Ward tried to detain Griffin, the shoplifter produced a lock knife in his right hand.
“You know what I’ve got don’t you? I’ll shank you,” Griffin told him.Which one is having it first – it won’t be quick.
“I’ll slit your throat. It’s not hard for me to get hold of a gun.”
Griffin then went into Marks and Spencer and then back into Boots before being arrested by police.
He pleaded guilty to theft, possessing a knife in public and a public order offence and appeared in court for sentencing via a video link from prison.
Paul Bryning, defending, told Judge Graeme Smith: “He has accepted full responsibility and culpability despite having limited recollection. It will come as no surprise that drugs are the issue here.”
He added that, after a troubled childhood Griffin, of Enfield Close, Bolton, turned to drugs as a teenager but, after getting clean, relapsed in September last year. Sentencing Griffin to six months in jail, Judge Smith told him: “It’s disappointing that you offended in this way having managed to succeed in abstaining.”
