A SHOPLIFTER has been jailed for attacking a security guard at a Winchester Sainsbury's. 

Jordan Bell, previously of Winchester, punched and bit the security guard, who had tried to stop him from leaving with carrier bags full of stolen meat.

The 26-year-old, now of Brockhurst Road, Gosport, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Monday, August 12. He pleaded guilty to assault by beating, two counts of theft from a shop, one count of theft by finding and a public order offence.

The court heard that Bell stole meat from the store on two occasions shortly before the assault took place.

On Thursday, August 8, Bell was seen to fill three carrier bags with packets of meat, and attempted to leave the store without paying. The security guard confronted him, but Bell managed to run off with two of the bags and the guard’s body worn video camera, the court heard.

Bell visited the store on Friday, August 9, and again stole packets of meat. The court record did not state whether it was Sainsbury's at Middle Brook Street or Badger Farm.

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The court heard that on Saturday, August 10, the day of the assault, security guard tried to detain Bell when he tried to leave the store with more stolen meat.

During a brief struggle, Bell punched the guard to the face and bit his fingers. Officers then arrived and arrested him.

He was jailed for a total of 16 weeks.

Sergeant Ryan Keen, from the Winchester Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “It is not acceptable for retail staff to come to work and face this kind of criminality.

“We will continue to work with businesses in the city to make sure those offenders who repeatedly target stores are brought to justice.”