A violent shoplifter has been sent to prison after stealing alcohol and repeatedly punching a supermarket security guard in the Black Country.
Violent confrontation in Tipton supermarket
Stefan Baker, aged 40, was jailed after a brazen theft at a supermarket on Brickhouse Lane in Tipton. The incident occurred on 5 January, when Baker selected alcohol and then walked directly past all the payment tills without attempting to pay.
He was immediately challenged by a security worker as he tried to leave the store. The staff member successfully recovered the stolen goods and attempted to obtain Baker's details.
Aggressive assault leads to arrest
However, the situation quickly escalated when Baker became aggressive. He assaulted the security worker, punching him multiple times in a sustained attack.
Officers from West Midlands Police responded to the incident. Baker was detained outside the store and arrested on suspicion of assault and shop theft. During the arrest, police recovered the stolen items and also found a small blade in his possession.
Court sentence and police warning
Baker, of Witton Road, later admitted to the offences at an earlier hearing. He appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court where he was handed a 16-week prison sentence.
In a statement following the sentencing, West Midlands Police reiterated their crackdown on retail crime. A spokesperson said: "We’re catching hundreds more suspected shop thieves in the West Midlands as we continue to act against retail crime across the region."
The force urged the public to report any incidents of retail crime by calling 101, and to always dial 999 in an emergency.
