by Julia Roberts

A junkie who held a hypodermic needle to a store detective’s neck has been jailed for just over two years.

Daniel Kitchingham, 30, threatened the victim with the syringe after he was caught stealing meat from a Sittingbourne supermarket.

The pair were involved in a brief struggle during which the man's neck was scratched by the needle.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he then had to undergo a test for HIV, was vaccinated against Hepatitis B and prescribed a month-long course of tablets which made him repeatedly vomit.

Today, a judge at Maidstone Crown Court told Kitchingham that while the injury may have been minor and caused recklessly, the potential psychological effect to the victim was serious.

“The course of treatment was very stressful to him and his family, causing worry and concern as to what the blood test results would reveal,” said Judge Philip St.John-Stevens.

“You had that syringe with you, knowing you would use it if necessary and as you had done so in the past.”

Kitchingham, of Makenade Avenue, Faversham, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and shoplifting.

Prosecutor Martin Yale told the court that Kitchingham was stopped by the store detective outside Sainsbury’s in September last year.

Having been asked to go back in to the store and a hand placed on his arm, Kitchingham began to struggle before taking the needle from his tracksuit pocket.

He told him: “Get off, I’ve got a needle.”

The cover on the syringe came off and it was held to the man's neck, causing the scratch and bleeding.

Kitchingham, who was said to be addicted to class A drugs, was at the time subject to a supervision order imposed by magistrates for offences of shoplifting and attempted theft from a motor vehicle.

At today’s hearing Judge St.John-Stevens jailed Kitchingham for 21 months for the assault and three months concurrent for stealing the meat.

He also imposed a consecutive sentence of four months for the breach of the supervision order and for failing to attend court, making a total of 25 months.

“Your addiction has driven you to commit these offences which is no excuse but gives some explanation,” added the judge.
Kitchingham has already served 187 days on remand.