Robert Hill, of Ashgrove, Great Horton, threatened to stab store guard with needle then attacked his friend in street

Robert Hill, 37, struck again when he was caught stealing packs of meat from Sainsbury’s Local in Great Horton Road, Bradford, on August 18 last year.

Hill, of Ashgrove, Great Horton, scuffled with store detective Christian Mellor when he challenged him and then produced a hypodermic needle and threatened to stab him.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday he waved the needle at Mr Mellor in front of members of the public before walking off up Great Horton Road.

Hill then attacked his friend, Colin Tennant, who laughed at him in the street.

He punched Mr Tennant, who was on crutches, spat at him and pulled his hooded coat over his head.

When the police came to arrest him at his address, on November 23, Hill threatened to get a knife.

He pleaded guilty to threatening Mr Mellor with a sharply pointed article, beating both him and Mr Tennant, and affray when he was being apprehended by the police.

Hill said he had drunk 12 cans of lager when he assaulted Mr Tennant and the pair were again friends.

The court was told he had 33 convictions for 112 offences, mainly for dishonesty and public order matters.

He had repeatedly threatened store guards with syringes when he was caught shoplifting.

On one occasion, he assaulted a guard with a needle stuck down his sock, scratching him on the hand.

Hill’s solicitor advocate, Andrew Walker, said his client had been beset by nerve damage in his leg.

He had now been successfully treated and would be able to walk to appointments with his probation officer if sentenced in the community.

He had been treated for alcoholism in the past and had mixed drink with the medication for his leg ailment when he attacked Mr Mellor.

“He wasn’t thinking straight,” Mr Walker said.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said: “This is a catalogue of serious matters set against a background of serious offending, with repeated use of syringes.”

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