A thief threatened an Asda security guard with a knife after he was caught stealing.
Joshua Johnson brandished the knife outside the Southport supermarket after a spree of thefts, in which police said he took Haribo and knives from a café.
The 25-year-old had even stolen a bicycle from a 14-year-old boy and broken into a woman's Mercedes to take her spare change.
READ MORE: Musician who molested sleeping teenager walks free from court
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, today said on March 14 this year 64-year-old Judith Wynn was at her Southport flat while her bicycle was in an underground garage.
She noticed the mechanism of the garage door was damaged, and on further inspection found her £350 bicycle was stolen.
A police officer identified Johnson on CCTV stealing the bike and cycling away.
On March 31 a 14-year-old boy had taken his bicycle home and left it near his house, behind a set of private gates.
Mr Blasbery said the next day the boy realised his bicycle, worth £300, was missing, and again Johnson was identified by an officer on CCTV lifting the bike over a neighbour's fence.
Two days later, on April 2, Denise Collins parked her Audi outside her Birkdale home near her husband's Mercedes.
The following day a neighbour informed her the boot of the Mercedes had been open, and when she checked she discovered £30 in spare change was missing.
When Mrs Collins checked the Audi she found blood on the "centre console" of the car, which was later identified as Johnson's.
Johnson was charged for those offences but failed to turn up at court, and continued his spree of crime while at large.
On July 2 Johnson burgled the Bridge Café in Southport and was seen smashing his way into the café on CCTV, from which he was later identified.
A prosecutor today said in court nothing was taken, but police previously stated Haribo, two kitchen knives, bin bags and fizzy drinks were stolen.
At 10.10pm the following evening Johnson went into Asda on Central 12 Shopping Park, where he was already known as a "prolific shoplifter".
He was seen trying to smuggle out £156 worth of sweets and alcohol out of a rear door but was stopped by security who took the items from him.
Johnson, who had recently been released from prison for a previous sentence, tried to flee the store but security officer Stuart Hibbert followed him in attempts to detain him.
Mr Blasbery said: "Mr Johnson pulled out what was described as a large kitchen knife from his waistband and lunged towards Mr Hibbert and said 'I'll slash you'."
He then fled the scene but was later arrested and answered no comment to the questions put to him in interview.
In court Johnson claimed he didn't realise it was a security officer and said he had been "muddled up" but following a conference his barrister confirmed he did not maintain that position.
He has 40 previous convictions for 82 offences which include possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article.
Lionel Greig, defending, said the offence happened outside the back of the supermarket after 10pm and there were no members of the public present.
Mr Greig said at the time Johnson was "regrettably under the influence of alcohol and drugs" and said he was "thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour".
He said Johnson was "desperate for the next fix" and turned to drugs due to "various pressures".
Mr Greig said Johnson's dad was "hoping to take him under his wings".
Johnson, of Royal Terrace, Southport, admitted two counts of theft, one count of intent to steal other than in a dwelling and one count of threatening a person with a blade in a public place.
The judge, Recorder Stan Reiz, QC, sentencing, told Johnson "You could have caused serious harm to the security officer".
The judge said he noted Johnson was homeless at the time and addicted to drugs.
Johnson was jailed for two years.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
