Steven Wood, 44, from Southampton, has been jailed for eight months following an incident involving shoplifting and assaulting a police officer. The event took place at a local store where Wood was caught stealing fish and meat products.
On the evening of Friday 25 February, two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) were patrolling Witts Hill in Southampton when they observed Wood entering the 1 Express store. Instead of proceeding to the tills, Wood exited the store carrying a bag filled with stolen goods.
When the officers confronted Wood, he became aggressive and physically assaulted one of the PCSOs. He was subsequently arrested at the scene.
Wood appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court on 28 February, where he pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and theft. He was initially sentenced to two months in prison. However, due to a previous suspended sentence related to earlier shoplifting offences, the judge extended his sentence by an additional 24 weeks, resulting in a total custodial term of eight months.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary commented on the case, stating, “Steven Wood has presented a persistent threat to the community for a prolonged period of time. The community is now safer while he remains in prison.”
They added, “A PCSO was simply doing his job and looking to protect that community. Fortunately, he suffered no lasting injury. We are glad that the courts have seen fit to protect the community and the police, the protectors of the community, in this way.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
