Jail term for Shropshire shoplifter who 'swept shelves clean'

Lee Perry swung a box of fragrance, striking the guard on the head and briefly knocking him out after he challenged him outside Boots chemist in Newport, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

Perry had previously pleaded guilty to nine charges of shoplifting from September to November 2014. Five of the thefts took place at Boots in Newport, while the others were from the Co-op store in Ludlow, Fat Face in Malvern and two from Boots in Bridgnorth. He was jailed for 26 months at court yesterday.

Mr Richard Davenport, prosecuting, said that on most occasions Perry would enter the store, select perfumes or other toiletries, place them in a bag and walk out.

On November 31 he was recognised by a security officer at Boots in Newport and when challenged swung a fist at his head while holding a bottle of fragrance, said the prosecutor.

Mr Davenport added the guard had briefly lost consciousness after being struck, but then continued to chase Perry, who jumped into a car and drove off the wrong way down a one-way street.

Recorder Stephen Thomas told Perry: "You were just sweeping the shelves clean of items and putting them in your bag."

He said Perry had sought out high value products in small stores who could not afford high security. "Clearly you would have had a market in mind for those perfumes and the like," he added.

Recorder Thomas said that Perry had been saved from a longer sentence by his early guilty plea and his efforts to rid himself of drink and drugs.

Perry was ordered to serve two months for each of the nine thefts, plus eight months for the assault. He must also pay an £80 victim surcharge.

Ms Amanda Tomkins, for Perry, said that the defendant had subsequently served a prison sentence for other offences since committing the thefts.

She said that Perry had used his time in prison to tackle his drinking and drug problem and had been certified drug free for five months. He was arrested for the thefts immediately after being released.

The court heard Perry, of Tennyson Road in Willenhall, had 241 convictions for 79 offences, 142 of which were theft-related.

Ms Tomkins said the defendant had been re-evaluating his life since turning 40 while in prison and had in the past shown that he could hold down a stable job once off drink and drugs.

She told the court that Perry's partner had also successfully quit her drug habit, which had seen the couple's son taken into care.

"He realises he can't carry on like this, especially if he wants his son to come and live with him," added Ms Tomkins.