Doncaster shoplifter 'pulled small blade and lunged at woman'

Jamie Corbett tussled with an off-duty female shop worker when he tried to steal a basket of items from Lidl, in Thorne, Doncaster, on October 1, last year,

Prosecutor Holly Clegg said he pulled a small blade attached to a credit card and lunged at the woman, swinging the blade at her face, but she managed to push him away.

And in January, Corbett was chased by two brothers after he tried to steal items from the Co-Op in Thorne.

When they tried to get the basket off him he pulled out a knife with a small blade. He ran off and threw the blade away, but was detained by a different member of the public.

The court heard he has 23 convictions for 45 offences, including theft and offences against the person.

Andrew Smith, mitigating, said Corbett has already served the equivalent of a 15 month sentence.

"He knows the offences are unpleasant," he said.

Corbett, 39, of Wike Gate Road, Thorne, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to threatening a person with a blade in public and theft.

Judge Roger Thomas QC told him: "So far you have pretty much ruined your life. With the probation service's help maybe you can clean your life up. If you can't, you will be back in court and you will be locked up. You have already served the sentence I would have passed."

The judge imposed a 12-month community order with 24 rehabilitation days.

"Here's a chance in your life to turn things around," he added. "You're almost 40."

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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