A SHOP thief who brandished a hypodermic needle at a security officer shouting: “I am HIV positive,” has been jailed for seven months.

Drug addict Sam Bracegirdle brought terror to Tesco on Halifax Road, in the Buttershaw area of Bradford, after he was caught stealing toys and food worth £48.

Bracegirdle, 38, of Beehive Street, Buttershaw, threatened security officer Mohammed Ahmed with the needle after he detained him at the store on April 12.

The long term drug and alcohol abuser had accumulated 13 convictions for 20 offences.

Those convictions included six for theft and one for having an offensive weapon, Bradford Crown Court was told.

He pleaded guilty at the magistrates court to possession of an offensive weapon and intentionally threatening Mr Ahmed in such a way that there was an immediate risk of serious physical harm.

Bracegirdle’s solicitor advocate, Tom Rushbrooke, said his client was prescribed Methadone to combat his drug addiction.

But he supplemented it with diazapam bought off the street because he felt that the dose was too low, the court heard.

Bracegirdle recalled going to the Tesco store, where he was a regular customer, and finding the needle in his pocket.

He decided to use the needle to try to make his escape from the store, although he had known Mr Ahmed for two years and would have been easily identified.

“He recognises the impact on his victim and is very shameful,” Mr Rushbrooke said.

“He accepts that his behaviour was very wrong and realises how fearful the people at Tesco would have been when he brandished the needle,” added Mr Rushbrooke.

Since the incident, Bracegirdle had written to Tesco to apologise, the court was told.

His father, who was doing his best to help him, was in court during the case to support his son.

Mr Rushbrooke handed Judge Jonathan Rose a letter from West Yorkshire Police confirming that Bracegirdle went to the assistance of someone who collapsed in Bradford city centre earlier this month.

But Judge Rose said that security officers had to confront people like Bracegirdle who stole and then made an attempt to get away.

Mr Ahmed was doing an honest day’s work when he was threatened in a terrifying incident at the store, the court was told.

“I am thinking of Mr Ahmed, standing in front of you in the store, and you threatening to infect him with HIV,” Judge Rose said.

Bracegirdle had been given Drug Rehabilitation Requirements and Alcohol Treatment Programmes when sentenced in the past and had gone on to reoffend.

“You know what, Mr Bracegirdle, it is time you helped yourself,” the judge told him.