Man sentenced for theft and assault at Lidl store in Waterlooville

A man has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison following a serious assault that took place outside of a supermarket in Waterlooville in January.

Benn Glanville, 23, of Partrick Haugh Road, Bicester, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Friday 12 November), having been charged with wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, threatening a person with a blade/sharply pointed article in a public place, battery and theft from a shop.

The court heard how on January 22 of this year, police were called at approximately 8pm to a report that three men had entered the Lidl store on Elettra Avenue and left with a bag full of meat products.

The store security guard, a 40-year-old man, attempted to engage with the three men when he was knocked unconscious by one of them and then punched in the head while on the ground, sustaining serious injuries to his face and mouth. He was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital for treatment and has since recovered from his injuries.

A 41-year-old member of Lidl staff attempted to help the security guard and was also assaulted, sustaining minor injuries, before the men ran off.

Glanville was arrested in connection with the incident and later charged. He previously appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court in September where he pleaded guilty to the offences and was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing today.

DS Matthew Cumming of Hampshire Constabulary’s Eastern Criminal Investigation Department said:

“These were brazen attacks carried out on two men who were just trying to do their jobs. No-one should have to go to work and fear violence and we hope that this result today reassures our communities that assaults of this nature will not be tolerated.

“Fortunately, both victims have now recovered from their injuries but this incident could have had much more serious consequences.

“We will continue to focus our activities on preventing these types of offences occurring and ensuring the courts have the full facts on which to sentence those that commit such crimes. We want to ensure that residents and store workers can go about their business free from the risk of assault or having to witness such incidents.”

Glanville was also sentenced for assaulting a 39-year-old man on the same night, as well as the assault of a 24-year-old man, a 25-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman during an altercation in Petersfield in August.

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