Chocoholic thief jailed after threatening people with a knife as he tried to steal Galaxy bars

A thief with a sweet tooth has been jailed after he threatened members of the public with a knife in a bid to steal a tray full of chocolate bars.

Lewis Howden, 34, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after he entered the One Stop convenience store, in Peterborough, Cambs., at around 6.20pm on 29 January.

Police say he selected a full tray of Galaxy chocolate bars and placed them inside a large black bag.

Howden was walking towards the exit, without paying, when two members of staff stopped and challenged him.

A customer then grabbed him by the back of his jacket when he tried to get past the staff, pulling a knife from his trousers.

As the staff members backed away, Howden then left the shop.

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On 19 February, police received a call from Boots Chemists, in Queensgate, Peterborough, where Howden had been caught stealing a bottle of Burberry perfume worth £59.

Security staff detained him and police arrested him over the theft.

He told police he had planned to sell the perfume as he needed to pay his mother back and did not want to disappoint her because they had been getting along well.

Howden, of Burrows Court, Peterborough, pleaded guilty two to counts of theft from a shop and possession of a knife in a public place at a previous hearing.

He was sentenced to to 14 months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court.

Sergeant Rory Thompson said: “Howden’s actions were completely unnecessary and while the items he stole may not seem significant, theft can easily escalate, and his use of a knife raises the risk and severity of the crime.

“Thanks to the quick actions of the Boots security staff, Howden has now been stopped in his tracks.”