A PROLIFIC shoplifter who threatened staff with a knife at three stores in Bolton has been jailed for 28 months.

Lee Bennett stole goods and threatened staff with a fold-up pocket Stanley knife at The Co-op in Tonge Moor Road, Tesco Express in Bradley Street and The Co-op in Ainsworth Lane.

On the first occasion, on November 14, at around 1pm, Bennett, of Blair Lane, Bolton, stole meat and cheese worth £70 from Tesco Express, in Bradley Street.

A member of staff had seen him filling two Asda carrier bags.

Prosecuting at Bolton Crown Court, Duncan Wilcock said : “As soon as the member of staff spoke to him he told him to ‘get away’ and produced a knife from his waistband.”

Bennett, aged 35, struck again on November 20, at The Co-op in Ainsworth Lane at around 1.15pm where he stole £50 of coffee.

Staff member Peter Grimshaw approached the defendant and told him to put the coffee back and made to grab hold of the bag.

Mr Wilcock said: “At that point the defendant produced a Stanley knife and flashed it around him.

“He held it towards Mr Grimshaw and moved around him.”

On the final occasion Bennett entered the Co-op in Tonge Moor Road, at around 11.45am, on November 21.

The manager of the store saw him in the bread and cut meats aisle putting items in a bag.

Mr Wilcock added: “He headed out the shop and made no attempt to pay.

“The store manager approached him and asked for the goods back.

“The defendant said ‘get off or I’ll cut you’.

“The witness could see he was holding a knife which he waived towards him.”

On each occasion Bennett was caught on CCTV.

He was arrested for six offences, three of theft and three of threatening someone with a knife.

He admitted theft at the Co-op in Tonge Moor Road, denied possession of a blade and denied the other incidents but later pleaded guilty in court.

A Stanley knife was recovered under a parked car near to the Co-op store in Tonge Moor Road.

Defending Kimberley Morton said: “He is a prolific shoplifter and drug user and has had a heroin problem for a number of years. The threats with a knife were simply to make good of his escape, he wasn’t going to use it.”

Sentencing him Honour Judge Richard Gioserano said: “I accept that this is all down to drugs but that doesn’t mitigate your position.These are serious offences and on three occasions you planned to shoplift and deploy a knife.”

Bennet was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140.