A manager at a Tesco store was threatened with a hypodermic needle after catching a shoplifter.

Thief Jason Cox – who has nearly 100 previous convictions - was spotted stashing £76 worth of booze into a foil-lined bag and leaving the Whitfield store on June 10.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how the 43-year-old was then challenged by manager Sophie Brook about the four bottles of spirits.

Prosecutor Ed Fowler told how the manager asked him, "What's that in your bag?" and went to take hold of him. He walked away and another person stood in front of him.

"At this point Cox produced the syringe and said: 'Get off me or I will stab you with this!'"

The prosecutor said Cox produced the syringe from inside his sock, held it above his head and, after making threats, made a stabbing motion towards her. He then made off in a Ford Focus.

The court heard that Ms Brook wasn't injured and Cox, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty by prison video link to theft, making threats and going equipped for stealing. He was jailed for a year.

His lawyer Phil Rowley said Cox had a long-standing drugs problem and struggled to find a place to live after being released from prison terms.