'Arrogant' thief plagued shops in £1,000 spree
GoogleAn "arrogant" shoplifter plagued shops across north-east England stealing hundreds of pounds' worth of goods, a court has heard.
Callum Armstrong, 20, repeatedly targeted a petrol station in Gateshead and shops in the Metrocentre and Sunderland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
He threw a drink in one worker's face causing her to quit her job and threatened to spray a security guard in the face with ammonia, the court heard.
He was given an 18-month community order after admitting multiple counts of theft. Armstrong was also banned from entering the Metrocentre and the surrounding retail park for two years.
Armstrong and his associates repeatedly stole chocolate, alcohol and energy drinks from a Shell garage in Gateshead between November 2023 and January last year, prosecutor Rachel Kelly said.
He also stole gift sets from Bodycare and Boots, and underwear and bedding from Marks & Spencer in the Metrocentre, and clothes from Primark in Sunderland with his thefts totalling goods worth almost £1,000, the court heard.
'Absolute nuisance'
On 3 June last year he and others went into Poundland in Gateshead and stole socks, Ms Kelly said.
A shopworker confronted them and Armstrong shouted abuse and threats at her before throwing a drink into her face and then hurling the can at her head, the court heard.
In a statement read to the court, the woman said she had been forced to leave her job because of the trauma and fears of further attacks.
On 9 July, Armstrong threatened to spray ammonia in the face of a security guard at the Range in Gateshead as he stole cleaning products worth £164, Ms Kelly said.
The security guard said Armstrong and his associates were an "absolute nuisance" who felt they could "do whatever they like without any consequences".
He said: "They are so arrogant to think they have the right to do what they want without anyone stopping them."
On other occasions Armstrong, of Morris Street in Teams, Gateshead, smashed a window at some council-owned flats and was found in possession of a bread knife, the court heard.
Judge Edward Bindloss said Armstrong deserved to be detained for 15 months in a young offender institution, but because he had already spent six months being held on remand he would be released within days if such a sentence were passed.
The judge said that would not "meet the risk" Armstrong posed and the public would be better served if he were to work with the probation service to address his offending and its causes.