Sheffield man held supermarket staff at bay with a knife

Darren Eddison removed the security tags from two bottles of whisky, worth £50, but when he was approached by staff he produced a small folding knife.

He went to the travelator followed by staff, who kept their distance, and was able to make good his escape.

"The defendant was known to staff as a prolific shoplifter and he has been barred from the store," prosecutor Ian Goldsack said.

The incident happened at Asda, in Woodhouse, on July 21.

When Eddison was traced and interviewed by police he initially claimed he only pretended to have a knife.

The court heard he was jailed for robbery in 2006 and 2014, and in 2019 he was locked up for two counts of theft and possessing a blade.

Sean Fritchley, mitigating, said Eddison had "years of drug and alcohol issues and clearly he was stealing because of that."

"His mental health was affected by lockdown. His father is ill and he fears he will lose him while in prison," Mr Fritchley added.

Eddison, 54, of Bignor Road, Birley Carr, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to theft and threatening a person with a blade in public.

Judge Roger Thomas QC told him: "It's said you found the lockdown difficult. It may be you were drinking too much. Presumably you will dry out during this sentence and it will give you the chance to settle down and look after your elderly parent."

He sentenced him to 12 months in prison.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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