Man, 36, jailed for 20 months after assaulting shop workers in Aldershot

A man has been jailed for 20 months after he assaulted shop workers while attempting to steal items from a store in Aldershot.

Christopher Howse, 36, of Grosvenor Road, Aldershot, tried to take two multipacks of Red Bull from Iceland on Thursday 9 April but was stopped by two female staff members.

Howse punched one woman in the back of her head and hit the other in the face with a clenched fist.

He then grabbed one of the women by the throat and squeezed her neck for around five to ten seconds before fleeing the store. Both women suffered minor injuries, including a cut lip.

Meanwhile, on 9 June, Howse kicked and punched a staff member at Bargain Buys in Aldershot. The man suffered bruising and swelling as a result of the incident.

Winchester Crown Court also heard that Howse stole Red Bull worth £104.40 on two occasions from the Co-op store on Lower Farnham Road between 13 May and 17 May.

Howse pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by beating, two counts of theft from a shop and intentional strangulation.

He was jailed for a total of 20 months at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 19 July.

PS Rob Tiller, from the Aldershot Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Officers work hard to target retail criminals and work with businesses in the area to help them feel safe.

“A lot of this work involves targeting known offenders and those who are abusive to retail staff.

“On the more serious end of the scale, we receive reports of incidents where physical violence is used in order to make financial gain.

“This behaviour will not be tolerated and I would like to praise the victims for coming forward to report it to us.

“I hope the local residents and businesses can be reassured that our officers will relentlessly pursue offenders and do all we can to put them before the courts.”