TWO security guards were injured when a shoplifter was cornered in an alleyway and attacked them, a court heard.
When Alan Murray, 29, of Dame Kendal Grove, Grimsby, discovered one of the security guards was pressing charges against him, he threatened him in his store.
Sentencing Murray to a total of 14 months in prison, Judge Mark Bury, at Grimsby Crown Court, said: "When security guards are assaulted when they are doing their job to prevent people from stealing from shops, they should not feel intimidated."
The judge said Kevin Hooper, at Marks and Spencer, and Christopher Bouch, at Wilkinsons, were "doing their duty" when they were attacked.
Murray admitted stealing two scooters from Argos, three offences of assault and one offence of threatening behaviour.
He was also in breach of a suspended sentence.
Prosecuting, Jeremy Evans said Mr Hooper and Mr Bouch were alerted over their radio links of a shoplifter who had taken two scooters from Argos at about 3pm on May 25. They both saw Murray and followed him along Pasture Street. When he realised he was being followed, the shoplifter went down an alley which was a dead end.
He threw one of the scooters over a wall before being challenged by the security guards.
They took hold of him, the court heard.
Mr Hooper was kicked in the eye and his index finger was bitten.
Mr Bouch restrained Murray, who initially agreed to be detained, claiming: "You know who I am."
But when the guard released his grip, he was kicked in the leg and headbutted.
Mr Evans told how Murray, having been granted bail, went into Wilkinson's store in The Bull Ring on May 31 and asked if the guard was pressing charges.
When he was told there would be court proceedings, Murray became abusive and made threats.
Mr Evans said Murray was subject to a three-month suspended sentence after throwing the contents of a bottle at a taxi driver in Bargate in January.
For Murray, Andrew Bailey said his client's benefits had ceased and he was evicted from his home, so resorted to the thefts.
He said since the assaults, he had sought to improve his life and cared for his children.
But Judge Bury sent Murray to jail.
'An increase in shoplifting at this time of year' In the run-up to the festive season, Humberside Police has warned criminals: "We are coming to get you and we are going to lock you up for Christmas." At the weekend, the Grimsby Telegraph joined officers on a day of action to clamp down on shop thefts in Grimsby town centre. One arrest was made, of a 48-year-old man suspected of stealing bike parts from Wilkinsons, as reported. Sgt Simon Duffield said: "We are trying to get as many shoplifters as we can convicted before Christmas to make the area safer for shoppers. "Top Town is the main shopping area in North East Lincolnshire and it is where most people want to come and do their Christmas shopping safe in the knowledge that they are not going to be blighted by beggars and shoplifters. "You tend to find people stealing to order at Christmas, especially in these times of austerity, and that is why you see an increase in shoplifting at this time of year. "We are also handing out leaflets to shoppers advising them how to deal with beggars. "It can be quite intimidating for people walking past beggars all the time and they should not feel pressurised. "A lot of the beggars in the town centre are prolific thieves and are known criminals. "They are not homeless, they are begging to feed a drug habit or drink habit."Follow us on Facebook and Twitter