Knife-wielding shoplifter locked up for 21 months after terrorising supermarket staff
Lee Whiting, 31, with no fixed address, has been jailed for 21 months after threatening a security guard with a knife during a spree stealing over £700 worth of meat from a Strood supermarket.
Meat heist spree at Strood supermarket
Whiting hit the Commercial Road store five times in November 2017. Each time, he headed straight to the meat aisle, stuffed a plastic bag full of meat, and stormed out without paying. He kicked off his crime spree by stealing a large haul before being confronted by staff — but he kept coming back for more.
Knife threat sparks police action
On his final visit, security guards caught up with Whiting — only for him to pull a knife and threaten them before fleeing. Detective Inspector Susan Smith of kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police said, “Whiting’s victims were fearful that they were going to be seriously harmed and his actions are completely inexcusable.
Justice served at Maidstone Crown Court
Facing one count of threatening a person with a bladed article and five counts of shoplifting, Whiting pleaded guilty to the thefts but was found guilty of the knife threat. He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 16 May.
DI Smith added, “He has caused an honest and law-abiding business to lose a significant amount of money. It is entirely appropriate that he has received a custodial sentence.”
