A mentally-ill man who wrecked a supermarket after being locked in by staff for shoplifting has been sentenced to a 12- month community order with supervision and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Ian Escreet, 54, did £4,000 damage to the Co-op on Otley Road, Undercliffe, Bradford. Escreet, of Pollard Lane, Bramley, then helped himself to food, drink and cigarettes while waiting for the police to arrive, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.
He pleaded guilty to theft and damage at the shop at 6.40pm on October 18 last year. The court heard Escreet threatened staff by saying an associate outside the store had a gun.
He told officers his wrecking spree was “a measured response” to be being shut in. The court heard that Escreet had worked until he was 49 and fell victim to mental health problems.
His condition had stabilised and he now felt much better.
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