A burglar who tried to escape from an electrical store with an empty laptop box was chased and beaten up by the manager.
Lee Thorpe took the box from Currys PC World in Crown Point Shopping Park on January 31 this year.
Leeds Crown Court heard the 'prolific and repeat offender' was on licence at the time.
The 41-year-old was jailed for a year and seven months today (Wednesday) after pleading guilty to burglary.
Prosecutor Ayesha Smart said Thorpe entered the store, found a security key and used it to open a unit.
She said he picked out two laptop boxes and placed one on the floor and one under his arm.
Thorpe tried to leave by the front door but the store's manager was on the floor and shouted: "Code 10."
The defendant tried to push past him and told him to get out of his way, which he did not.
Thorpe then went to the back of the store, exited via the fire door and slammed it behind him.
Ms Smart said the manager and one of his colleagues were chasing Thorpe and the door had led him to a secure yard with a six-foot tall fence.
CCTV footage showed the manager punching Thorpe four times, kneeing him in the chest twice and kicking him while he was on the floor.
The laptop box was empty.
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Thorpe had dog nail clippers in his possession when he was arrested.
Ms Smart said the defendant told police he had been assaulted by the manager, but no further action was taken against him.
Thorpe has 45 previous convictions for 90 offences, most of which are for theft and similar offences, including burglary.
The court was told he has mental health and drug issues.
Gareth Henderson-Moore, mitigating, said his client had not offended since the burglary and, with the exception of one incident, had abided by a curfew while he was on bail.
He said Thorpe needs help.
