A 36-year-old man has been jailed after stealing thousands of pounds worth of tobacco from businesses in east Bristol.
Jamie Doyle, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on November 17 after pleading guilty to one count of robbery, four counts of commercial burglary and two counts of shoplifting.
He was jailed for three years and nine months for the crimes he committed in October.
The court heard how at around 8.10am, Doyle entered the Co-Op on Two Mile Hill Road where he violently pushed a staff member and stole thousands of pounds worth of tobacco.
His offending continued between the 9-13 October, stealing from the same Co-Op in Two Mile Hill Road, a Tesco in Bell Hill Road and another Co-Op in Church Road.
In total, Doyle had stolen nearly £5,000 tobacco, as well as more than £60 in groceries and a £30 bottle of alcohol.
He was arrested on 13 October after stealing more than £1,300 in tobacco from the Co-Op in Church Road, St Georges.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Chris Wright said: “Shoplifting and theft is a crime that impacts everyone. For businesses, it is a significant financial loss. For staff members, it can be shocking and scary. For communities, it can have financial and personal implications. In this case, a member of staff was harmed in Doyle’s efforts to get his tobacco fix, the alarm and disruption causing unnecessary stress to someone just trying to go about their daily job.
“New systems make it easier for retailers to share CCTV and other evidence with police. The new process supports effective reporting of shoplifting, allowing our officers to crack down on the crime and seek justice swiftly.”