A drug addict's attempt to escape after shoplifting led to his dog biting a supermarket worker and a police officer, a court heard.

After stealing four bottles of spirits from Tesco at Pembury, Karl Hayward, of Napier Road, Gillingham, fled to the car park pursued by employee Michelle Bowles.

Hayward, 44, grabbed a screwdriver from his car and his dog Tye attacked Ms Bowles and the off-duty woman officer who had been shopping at the store and intervened.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the two victims suffered "nasty injuries" during the incident on April 30.

“It was really shoplifting that went wrong,” said Hayward’s lawyer Adrian Rohard. “We have all seen the type of injuries dogs can inflict.”

Mr Rohard said Chatham-born Hayward had been addicted to Class A drugs for the best part of 25 years.

“He says he requires drugs to make him feel normal again,” said Mr Rohard. “He describes himself as the black sheep of the family.”

"This was violent activity by you that excited your dog" - Recorder Marie-Claire Bleasedale

Mr Rohard said one could understand why the dog reacted in the way it did in difficult circumstances.

Hayward admitted theft from Tesco, Co-op and Marks & Spencer, having an offensive weapon and owning a dog dangerously out of control.

Recorder Marie-Claire Bleasedale said what happened to the two victims was deeply upsetting.

“It was your behaviour that caused that stressful environment,” she told Hayward. “I accept you are driven by drug addiction,” said the judge. “It is an explanation but it is not mitigation.”

Hayward was jailed for just over eight months - six months for the offences and two months consecutive for breaching a suspended sentence.

“I am not going to make a destruction order in relation to the dog or that you are not to own any other dogs,” said Recorder Bleasedale.

“This was violent activity by you that excited your dog. You didn’t urge your dog to bite anybody.”