Co-op drama ends in arrest (From Gazette Series)

Co-op drama ends in arrest

FLEEING shoplifter Thomas Carter abandoned an eight-year-old girl who was in his care and drove his car into a store detective in his bid to escape, a court heard.

Carter, 41, of St George's Road, Dursley, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court to do 100 hours of community punishment work and banned from driving for two years.

He had admitted theft of two bottles of spirits from the Co-op in Cam and dangerous driving on Oct 31 last year.

Prosecutor Peter Cook said that at the time Carter was looking after his girlfriend's daughter.

In the store he was seen to put two bottles of spirit into a carrier bag and leave without paying.

When he realised he was being pursued by the store security officer, John Gatiss, he ran off, leaving the little girl behind, and got into his car.

Said Mr : "The detective asked him to open the door but he revved the car engine, drove forward hitting the store detective in the leg and causing him to stagger and then hit another car in the car park, causing some damage.

"The store detective stood in front of his car. But the defendant drove at him, knocking him into some bushes.

"He then drove out of the car park, leaving the girl behind. Shop staff were concerned about her because she was obviously upset and tearful."

David Maunder, for Carter, said the car had been driven very slowly in the car park and the store detective had not received any significant injury.

He said the incident had begun with Carter meeting a man to whom he owed money in the shop.

Carter was worried because he knew the man regularly carried a knife and was likely to turn violent if he was not paid.

"He did not fancy that confrontation at all, particularly in front of the girl. In the heat of the moment he took the decision to leave the girl with a friend, go to the car and then collect the girl to make off," said Mr Maunder.

"Obviously it didn't quite work out because the store detective took the view he was stealing, pursued him and in his haste to get away he has to accept what he did was dangerous."

Recorder Mark Williams told Carter "This case is so serious that you were at the gravest risk of going to prison."

But he said he was not going to jail him because to do so would disastrously affect not just his life but also that of his young daughter, for whom he cares.