A SHOPLIFTER who threatened store staff with a syringe and told them he had AIDS has been sentenced to more than eight months in custody.
Gareth Christopher Bird, 32, pleaded guilty to theft, assault and possessing an offensive weapon at Wrexham’s ASDA store in Holt Road.
Matthew Ellis, prosecuting, told Wrexham magistrates that Bird, of Crescent Close, Wrexham, was seen on CCTV selecting items and hiding them about his person at 11.15pm on January 5.
On his way out he asked security guard Daniel Wolfenden what time the store closed, but then left without paying for any of the items.
Mr Wolfenden followed him, and after a struggle, along with two other members of staff, he was taken to the store’s security office.
Asked to empty his pockets in front of the store’s managers, he produced £115 worth of goods, including razor blades and bicycle accessories.
However, said Mr Ellis, he then became agitated and refused to sit down.
He produced a syringe, uncapped it, and then gestured towards one member of staff, telling them he had AIDS.
He escaped from the security office, still holding the syringe, but was stopped by police who had been called to the store.
When he refused to drop the syringe he was wrestled to the floor.
In interview he said he was intoxicated, but when shown the CCTV admitted he had stolen the items, Mr Ellis said.
He didn’t comment on the syringe incident except to say he was sorry for his actions.
Euros Jones, defending, said Bird had no recollection of the events but accepted what he had done.
He said Bird was at his lowest ebb and suicidal at the time, having taken a cocktail of drugs before committing the offence.
Bird had faced difficulties for a number of years, Mr Jones said.
His father had a heart attack before Christmas and Bird had recently been in custody for another offence, during which time his children had been taken away and his wife had divorced him.
He was now receiving treatment and was on anti-psychotic medication, Mr Jones said.
Magistrates said the assault was the most serious offence.
“This was a very nasty incident on a worker going about his duties,” they said.
He was sentenced to eight months and one week in custody.