A shoplifter who threatened to stab a member of staff as he left a Perth city centre supermarket without paying for two cartons of baby milk has been jailed for six months at the sheriff court.
Thirty-year-old Gary Cummings, of St Catherine’s Square, had another four months added to that after he failed to comply with a community payback order imposed for a previous theft from another local store.
He admitted stealing the baby milk from Tesco’s Crieff Road outlet on May 29, 2018, and then making violent threats.
Depute fiscal Tina Dickie said a member of staff saw Cummings “acting suspiciously,”collect a carton of milk from one of the shelves and then head for the exit.
Another employee approached him and attempted to prevent him leaving.
That person put their arm up in front of the accused in a bid to stop him.
But the accused said: “Get your arm off me,” and then made the stab threat.
“The accused then left holding two cartons of baby milk,” added the fiscal.
Cummings also pled guilty to stealing two helmet cameras from Boots High Street store in Perth on July 29 last year.
The court heard the items, valued at £139.98, were not recovered.
He had been given a community payback order, a direct alternative to a jail term, for that offence but the order had been breached.
Solicitor Mike Tavendale conceded there had been a “lack of co-operation” in relation to the order.
“He has a fairly substantial record,” added the lawyer.
“He’s under no illusions the position he’s in and appreciates your lordship is likely to impose a period of imprisonment.”
