A THIEF claimed he stole from a Blackburn supermarket because the company was ‘robbing’ customers.

Paul McDonald, of Adelaide Terrace, Blackburn, was jailed for eight weeks after he pleaded guilty to the theft of £101 worth of products from Farmfoods, in King Street.

After his arrest, McDonald, 38, told police: “I’ve seen their prices and they’re robbing us, so I decided to rob them.”

Manager Debbie Horrocks told Blackburn Magistrates’ Court however that shoplifting cost her shop up to £1,000 a week.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said McDonald was seen filling a trolley and leaving without making any attempt to pay. Ms Horrocks went after him and immediately recognised the defendant as a persistent shoplifter.

Miss Allan said: “She says Farmfoods is repeatedly targeted by shoplifters and estimates that this week alone more than £1,000 worth of stock has been taken.

“When she caught up with the defendant, he became aggressive and lashed out. Fortunately a member of the public and then another member of staff came to her assistance and he was detained until the police arrived.”

Ian Huggan, defending, said his client’s version of what happened before he was arrested was different.

Mr Huggan said: “He says he was assaulted by the people who got involved in detaining him. He says he was struggling against the assault and not against his detention.”

McDonald was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and a £150 criminal court charge upon his release from prison.

Mr Huggan said McDonald had yet to receive his first benefit payment since being released from prison and had found himself in ‘a difficult situation’.