A drug addict with 104 offences to his name "swooshed" a blade around in front of supermarket staff during a one-man crime spree.

Wayne Williams also punched a security guard's teeth out and "lunged" at a female shop worker in an attempt to fuel his £150 a day habit.

With intensifying ferocity the crook terrorised shops and supermarkets in Folkestone between January and March this year.

The 48-year-old punched a security guard in the face breaking two teeth and bloodying his nose, while stealing meat from the Cheriton High Street Co-Op on January 26.

Desperate Williams stole £100 worth of chocolates from Tesco in Foord Road, where he brandished a blade and threatened a manager who gave chase, on February 28.

The same day he targeted Clinton Cards in the high street where he stole £74 worth of candles before lunging at a shop assistant.

“She speaks in her statement of being fearful of going to work,” prosecutor Caroline Knight told Canterbury Crown Court.

Williams then wielded a knife in Boots based a stone’s throw away and threatened to slash a worker while fleeing with Lynx deodorant.

Ms Knight said shop staff were put in “real considerable fear” and dubbed Williams a “prolific shoplifter.”

He has tallied up 104 offences, 46 of those for theft and related crimes, she told Recorder Richard Thomas.

Mitigating, Paul Hogben said the Folkestone born and bred criminal was trying to raise money to fund a £150 per day drug habit.

"Williams has shown that regardless of the consequences he is intent on breaking the law, not only taking things that don't belong to him and causing distress to those working and shopping in Folkestone but also endangering innocent members of the public" - Graham Wilkinson

“On those occasions he was going shoplifting, but he was armed, and he was prepared to use violence and the shoplifting became robberies.

“He said to me he would like to say sorry to his victims,” the barrister explained.

Judge Thomas jailed Williams for seven-and-a-half years for two counts of robbery, one of attempted robbery, two counts of theft and two of possessing a blade in public.

“Both you and I know only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified - this can almost be called a mini crime wave,” he said.

“You are no stranger to violence and dishonesty - it is an aggravating factor in this case.

“On the 28th of February you set out to steal chocolates, you went equipped with a knife.

“An employee at the shop tried to stop you, this time you produced the knife.

“I’m satisfied you swooshed it around.”

He added Williams represents a “significant risk of harm” and “would do anything to secure the goods.”

“(The robberies and thefts) represent a desperate course of action by you - it seems to me you will do anything to secure the goods.”

Investigating officer, Det Con Graham Wilkinson, said: "Williams has shown that regardless of the consequences he is intent on breaking the law, not only taking things that don’t belong to him and causing distress to those working and shopping in Folkestone but also endangering himself and innocent members of the public.

"He’ll now serve time in prison for his actions."

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