An abusive shoplifter who spat at supermarket staff and called them “dogs” after being caught stealing three computer games from their store has been given a community order.
Mikhal Polizu also called the manager of Northampton Morrisons a “little midget” and declared he was “not that bothered” when a police officer cut her finger on a blade he had in his wallet.
Northampton Magistrates‘ Court heard that Polizu, aged 34, of Hunter Street, Northampton, had left the taxpayer with a £640 bill in court costs after taking part of his case to trial.
He had admitted stealing two Xbox games and one PlayStation game on April 17, and possession of a bladed article, but denied a charge of common assault. He was found guilty at a trial on September 13.
Stella Moses, prosecuting, told the court that Polizu walked out of the store with the stolen games and was confronted by the deputy manager, at which point he denied the theft.
He then started abusing him, and said: “Who are you? You are not the police. You can’t touch me.”
Polizu was told he would receive a banning letter, at which point he told the assistant manager: “You are just the assistant manager. You are just a dog,” before making barking noises at him.
Miss Moses said he then called the manager Joshua McAlpine a “little midget,” before spitting on his chest.
When police arrived to arrest him, he threatened Mr McAlpine, saying “Maybe I will see you in town, and we will see what happens.”
When in police custody, he denied having any bladed articles. But an officer searching his wallet broke the skin on her finger on a blade, and then found a second blade.
In interview, Polizu said he was “not that bothered” that the officer had been hurt.
Polizu, who represented himself in court, told the magistrates he had become aggressive when the shop staff had suggested he was an illegal immigrant.
The court heard details of Polizu’s pre-sentence report, in which he claimed the victim deserved to be spat at, and he didn’t see a problem with carrying blades.
He denied he carried the blades to remove security tags from items.
The court was told Polizu had one previous conviction for shoplifting as well as two cautions and one fine.
Polizu was given a 12-month community order, six months ‘ supervision and 250 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay the full costs of £640.
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