Robber swiped toblerone bars then hurled them at shop worker who tried to stop him
A robber swiped large Toblerone bars then hurled them at a shop worker who tried to stop him and an accomplice from stealing.
Lewis Carlson and a woman began helping themselves to the chocolates and sweets as soon as they entered the Sainsbury's Local in Tynemouth, North Tyneside.
When a brave member of staff intervened, the 36-year-old lashed out, pushing him into shelves then throwing the large Toblerone bars at him.
Despite the worker's courageous attempts to thwart him, Carlson managed to get away with £45 worth of confectionary.
The thief and his accomplice, Victoria Pedersen, went into the shop on January 31 shortly before 7pm, and started to put sweets and chocolate into a plastic bag.
Pederson went to leave without paying while Carlson picked up a number of Toblerone bars and followed her.
A member of staff tried to take the bag off Pedersen and Carlson ran towards him, shouting: "Get off."
Sentencing him at Newcastle Crown Court, Recorder Richard Herrmann said: "You grabbed him by the neck and pushed him into some shelves and grappled with him then you were throwing those large Toblerone bars at him.
"He was caused, at least, fleeting pain and discomfort."
Carlson then left, picking up more chocolate which had dropped to the ground as he went and he and Pedersen ran off towards Cullercoats Metro station.
The court heard they stole a total of £45 of confectionery.
The offence was caught on CCTV and Carlson was identified by police and later arrested.
Recorder Herrmann told him: "Your attitude for the pre-sentence report appears to have been as brazen and shameless as it was at the time of the offences.
“You said you couldn't understand why the shop worker would get involved, saying it's not his stuff, he didn't own it, he didn't need to get involved."
Carlson, 36, of Chirton Lane, North Shields, who has 25 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for 18 months.
Pedersen was dealt with previously for shop theft and was given a compensation order by magistrates.
Shaun Routledge, defending, said the robbery was out of character for Carlson. The court heard he is alcohol dependent and was homeless and had no money at the time.