Thief threatened to smash Leeds shop manager's head with bottle

Lee Jarvis was jailed for two years, ten months over the threat to the manager of Co-op store, Town Street, Beeston.

Leeds Crown Court heard Jarvis, 38, was known to staff at the store as he had stolen items from there in the past.

The manager challeneged Jarvis after he went into the store on December 22 and picked up a bottle of Bacardi and a bottle of brandy.

As he approached the exit Jarvis raised one of the bottles and said: “Don’t even bother or I am going to smash it around your head.”

Jarvis, of no fixed address, was allowed to leave with alcohol.

The court heard Jarvis had been to the same store the previous day and stole two bottles of alcohol.

Jarvis appeared before magistrates on January 7 this year in connection with other offences and was given a suspended sentence.

He went back to to the Co-Op on January 12 and stole more alcohol.

Four hours later he returned and stole two more bottles of booze.

Jarvis pleaded guilty to three offences of theft and one of robbery.

The court heard he has a long record for offending.

He has served prison sentences for wounding with intent and robbery.

Lyndsay Lobley, mitigating, said Jarvis’s offending was linked to his addiction to heroin and crack cocaine.

Miss Lobley added that Jarvis accepted he would be facing a lengthy prison sentence because of his poor criminal record.

Jailing Jarvis, Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, said: “You have a dreadful record of breaching court orders, being released and offending with a relatively short time.

“You used on of the bottles to threatened the manager.

“There was a limited element of planning and targting but your previous convictions are a serious aggravating factor.”