A shoplifter banned from a Tesco store raided it twice before telling staff: "Watch out I've got a knife."

Joseph Hughes, 38, targeted a Tesco Express in Southampton on March 26, 2024.

Prosecutor Varun Chuni told the court that Hughes first stole £100 of meat from at around 2.21pm.

He then returned in the evening despite staff telling him he was not allowed in.

Hughes then became aggressive, getting into one shop worker's face and said: "Are you scared of me?"

He returned around 20 minutes later and was told to leave by the staff again but he started packing a bag with meat.

A worker went to stop him, and Hughes became aggressive.

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He said he would leave if he got a bottle of wine, but again, a worker stopped him.

Shopworkers then heard Hughes say: "Watch out, I've got a knife".

Police were called and he was detained. No knife was found.

The court heard Hughes was stealing to fund a heroin addiction. It was heard that following this incident, Hughes went straight to his father to ask for help, and has since made a significant recovery and is now clean of heroin.

Hughes, of Breeze Meadow, Faversham, has been fined £120, must pay compensation to Tesco of £100, a surcharge of £48 and court costs of £85. He admitted two charges of shoplifting.