TWO men have admitted their roles in a shoplifting bid at a village store, which ended with a brief violent confrontation when the thief was challenged.

It stems from an incident at a Sainsbury Local store, in Brandon, County Durham, on Monday December 29 last year.

Defendant Thomas Neville Langley entered the premises, in Grove Road, at about 10.40pm, before picking up three ten-packs of Carling lager, worth £28.50, and heading for the exit, where co-accused Dean Mahan was waiting, outside the door.

But, Langley was approached as he neared the exit by an off-duty member of staff, a store security guard, and asked if he was going to pay for the lager.

An altercation followed in which Langley pushed the off-duty guard, trying to leave the shop.

Mahan then entered and pushed the employee, who stumbled into a display shelf, cutting his head.

He was subsequently treated at hospital, requiring ten stitches to the wound.

Langley and Mahan then picked up the cans of lager and fled the premises.

At a previous hearing at Durham Crown Court, the court heard that Langley would admit theft of the cans, and shoving the security guard when confronted, but denied robbery.

The hearing, in April, was told Mahan would also deny a charge of robbery as he was merely waiting outside unaware his co-accused was about to steal lager.

On seeing Langley being challenged, Mahan entered the premises and pushed the off-duty employee away, not intending for him to suffer any injury.

The case was adjourned for a trial, but, appearing at today’s (Wednesday July 22) hearing, three other charges were put to the defendants.

Mahan admitted unlawful wounding and Langley admitted common assault, both on the off-duty member of staff.

They each pleaded guilty to the theft of the lager.

Liam O’Brien, prosecuting, told the court: “We have discussed it with the reviewing Crown lawyer, the officer in the case and the witness, and it’s agreed that the robbery charge can ‘lie on the file’, and we’ll proceed on the three counts admitted by the defendants."

Counsel for both defendants asked for preparation of background reports by the Probation Service, prior to sentence.

Matthew Clarke, for Mahan acknowledged, however: “He knows custody is highly likely in this case.”

Judge Simon Hickey agreed, and he remanded both 28-year-old Mahan, whose address was given as, ‘care of’ Holme House Prison, Stockton, and 25-year-old Langley, of Turnbull Close, Gilesgate, Durham, in custody, pending sentence on August 14.