A SHOPLIFTER threw his bike at a security guard who caught him in a city centre street, Worcester magistrates heard.

Russell Allen, aged 23, of Dent Close, Worcester, went into the outdoor shop Mountain Warehouse in Bank Street, grabbed a number of children’s jackets and left the shop without paying for them.

Outside the shop, Allen got on his bike and started to leave the area, but was spotted by a security guard who works for Debenhams, just across the road.

Allen dropped the stolen clothing, valued at £299, and threw his bike at the guard, called Martin White, causing bruising and grazes, prosecutor Owen Beale said.

Allen then ran into the High Street entrance of T K Maxx and ran right through the store, coming out of its exit in the Shambles.

Police were called to the scene, and using security camera footage from T K Maxx, were able to identify Allen, who was subsequently arrested a short while later.

Mr Beale said that Allen had come before the court previously on October 30, on a charge of a theft from a shop. Allen pleaded guilty to one charge of theft from a shop, and one charge of assault. Mark Turnbull, who was representing Allen, said: “Mr Allen accepts that Mr White was injured by the bike, but he maintains that he did not throw it at Mr White, but that to fell on his shin, causing the injury.”

“The real explanation for the theft is that he was under some stress, and that there was some drug misuse as well. All the stolen items were recovered by Mountain Warehouse. The magistrates fined Allen, £80 for the theft and ordered him to pay £135 costs and a victim surcharge of £85. For the assault, Allen was given a criminal behaviour order for 12 months, which includes a thinking skills course, as well as banning him from entering Mountain Warehouse. He was also told to pay £50 compensation to the security guard who was injured in the incident.