Sheffield thief who struck at Co-op twice and robbed another store jailed

Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 8 how Glen Leary, aged 39, of Derby Street, Heeley, Sheffield, stole detergent and a bottle of rum from the Co-op on Derbyshire Lane, at Woodseats, Sheffield, on May 5, and returned on the same day to steal jars of coffee.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said that on the following day, May 6, Leary also took bottles of spirits during a robbery at the Co-op on Lees Hall Avenue, Meersbrook, Sheffield, and pushed a shop manager into shelving as she tried to stop him.

Judge Michael Slater told Leary: “You entered the same Co-op on two occasions - one in the morning, one in the afternoon - and simply walked out with items.”

He accepted that during the subsequent robbery on the following day, Leary had not intended there would be physical contact with a member of staff but that was the risk he was taking by trying to steal bottles of spirits.

Judge Slater told Leary: "The manager intervened and tried to apprehend you or at least recover the bottles you were stealing and she ended-up falling against a display and fortunately she was not injured.”

Leary, who has previous convictions including thefts, pleaded guilty to two shop thefts and a robbery, and also asked for three further offences from May 18 to be taken into consideration.

These included handling a stolen bank card and a fraud by using the bank card at a petrol station, and an attempted fraud after trying to use the card at a petrol station.

Richard Adams, defending, said Leary is currently a serving prisoner who has been recalled on burglary matters and his offending has been to support and fund his use of drugs.

However, Mr Adams added Leary will use his time in prison to achieve abstinence from drugs and he will be released drug-free.

Mr Adams said: “He hopes for the remainder of his days he can achieve something more productive.”

Judge Slater sentenced Leary to 12-months of custody.