Serial shoplifter threatened to smash Leeds shop owner's 'face in' with bottle of desperados

A serial shoplifter has been jailed after he threatened a shop owner in Leeds with a bottle of desperados.

Liban Mohamed was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court this week after pleading guilty to multiple offences including theft, attempted theft and robbery.

Prosecutor Syed Khukon told the court how the 30-year-old repeatedly targeted the Lifestyle Express store in Harehills to feed his alcohol addiction.

He stole crates of beer, including Heineken, Stella and Fosters, from the store.

Mr Khukon detailed how on April 8 this year, while attempting to steal yet more booze, the defendant was locked in the store by the shop keeper who refused to unlock the door until he paid for the items.

Growing frustrated, the court heard how Mohamed, of no fixed abode, raised a bottle of desperados over his head and said: “Open the door or I’ll smash your face in.”

Fearing for his safety, the shop keeper opened the door and the defendant fled with the booze.

The court heard how the 30-year-old returned to the store later that same day in an attempt to steal yet more alcohol, only to find West Yorkshire Police officers were already there.

As he was taken into custody, Mohamed vowed to return and “steal again,” Mr Khukon added.

Offering mitigation, defence counsel Angus MacDonald told the court that his client, who moved to the UK from Somalia at eight-years-old, had long battled alcohol addiction and mental health issues, resulting in him losing his job.

He explained that these worsened last year when the 30-year-old’s “world fell apart” following the death of his mother - his last remaining family.

Mr MacDonald added that his client had fallen into a “sad and predictable pattern,” that he was determined to break out of and has expressed his “genuine remorse” for his actions.

Passing sentence, Judge Neil Clark said Mohamed, who has 13 convictions from 35 offences, showed “utter bravado” in repeatedly taking items from the store, viewing it as “easy pickings.”

He sentenced him to two years and six months in prison.