'Give me my bag or I’ll stab you': Jail for thief caught with kitchen knife in B&M shop
A convicted thief who threatened a security guard with a knife after being picked up for suspected shoplifting has been jailed.
Reece Baggott was spotted by the officer in the B&M store in the Trident Centre, Dudley, on January 22, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The store detective thought he recognised 27-year-old Baggott from CCTV footage of a theft at the shop two days earlier, said Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting.
He approached the defendant and asked him to accompany him to the office but as they reached the holding room Baggott stopped, saying “I’m not going in there” and demanded the return of his shopping bag.
The security officer maintained the bag contained items he suspected of being stolen from other stores in the shopping centre, said Mr Dann.
Baggott then lifted up his top, revealing a large kitchen knife tucked into his trouser waistband, and said, “Give me my bag or I’ll stab you”, the court heard.
The guard called the police as Baggott continued to make threats before the suspect fled the store.
He was arrested two days later and denied knowing anything about the offences.
In the dock Baggott, of Wilmore Road, Perry Barr, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public area on the basis that he did not handle the knife or brandish it.
He claimed to have no memory of threatening to stab the victim, it was said.
17 previous convictions
The court heard that Baggott had 17 previous convictions covering 34 offences, including many for theft and two for similar matters, one for carrying a knife and another for possessing an offensive weapon.
He faces two theft charges arising from the January 22 incident which are due to be dealt with by the magistrates court, said Mr Dann.
The court heard the knife matter was aggravated by the fact he was out on licence for another conviction.
Representing Baggott, Mr Stephen Hamblett said the defendant, who had been on remand in prison since January, wanted to turn his back on crime and get a job.
“His time in prison this time around has really hit home and been a wake-up lesson for him. He says he can’t do this anymore. He regrets what he’s done,” said Mr Hamblett.
Jailing Baggott for 24 weeks, Recorder Ruth Coffey said she could not justify a shorter sentence as it was his second offence in four years for carrying a weapon or knife.
