A THIEF who dragged a store boss across a car park with his vehicle while trying to flee a burglary has been jailed for 12 months.

Benjamin Lee, the assistant manager of Farm Foods in Blackburn, was left with grazes to his body while trying to detain intruder Carl Poynton, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Poynton, 38, was challenged by Mr Lee while he was in a staff area at the then newly-opened store and was told he was looking for a toilet.

Claire Larton, prosecuting, said Mr Lee remained suspicious and began to follow Poynton, who ran from the premises to his nearby car. Once outside Mr Lee tried to remove the keys from the car’s ignition but his head was struck by the car door.

Miss Larton said: “While he was still partially reaching into the car the defendant reverses the vehicle and drags him across the gravel car park for some 30 feet.”

Another staff member tried to intervene and Poynton reversed the car again, with Mr Lee still hanging on, the court heard. Then a member of the public came across to the scene and restrained the defendant, who appeared to briefly calm down.

But when the grip on him was released momentarily, he reached into the glove compartment and produced a screwdriver. Poynton was able to run off towards a nearby McDonald’s. Police were called and they eventually found the defendant hiding in a female staff toilet at the restaurant.

A stolen purse from a Farm Foods staff member, taken from a staff room, was found on him, and two others were discovered either in his car and at the store. Poynton, of Henry Street, Clayton-le-Moors, who admitted charges of assault, dangerous driving, theft and having no driving licence, was also banned from the roads for 12 months. Darren Lee-Smith, defending, said his client had been in the grip of drugs. problems for around 20 years but had taken steps recently to tackle his addictions