A PERSISTENT shoplifter produced a knife when challenged by a security guard after leaving a clothing chain with several boxes of fragrance, without paying, a court heard.

The guard pursued Wayne Thomas who was carrying £204.95 worth of perfume products as he left TK Maxx, on Dragonville Retail Park,Durham, at 4.45pm on September 15.

Durham Crown Court heard that Thomas was suspected of successfully stealing £209.94 worth of fragrance from the same store the previous day.

Angus Taylor, prosecuting, said the guard ushered Thomas back to the store, but, at the doorway, he dropped the boxes of fragrance and produced a small craft knife from his pocket.

Both the security man and a pregnant shopper, getting out of her car near the store, said Thomas waved the knife in a “jousting-like” motion towards the guard, who stepped backwards and raised his arms.

Thomas fled, but was detained nearby by a police officer arriving in response to an earlier call from the guard. The knife was recovered from a hedge.

Thomas, 41, of Edwin Street, Sunderland, admitted two counts of theft, but denied a charge of affray, claiming he did not have a knife.

But, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict on the affray charge.

Remanding him in custody, Judge Christopher Prince said, based on his past crimes, Thomas is a “recidivist shoplifter”, not averse to carrying knives.

Sentence was adjourned until March 9 to allow drawing up of victim impact statements by both the security guard and the shopper.