A MAN who threatened staff at a Barrow high street store has been jailed and banned from the shop.

Ian Riddick, 39, had only just got out of prison after being jailed for a three-day shoplifting spree when he was back causing trouble.

Riddick, of Greenhill Close, Barrow, admitted five counts of theft and one count of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates Court.

The offences relate to theft of a TV from ASDA on December 21; theft of a TV from ASDA on December 27, theft of two bottles of vodka from Tesco on January 11; theft of multiple grocery items from the Co-op on February 5 and theft of multiple grocery items from the Co-op in Ulverston on the same day.

It was said that the offence was so serious because they were committed while he was on licence and and only a short time after release from a custodial sentence.

The threatening behaviour charge relates to an incident on February 7 this year when he was threatening and abusive to a member of staff in Boots in Barrow, the court was told.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, as well as four weeks consecutive for theft.

He was also given a restraining order for two years and told not to enter Boots on Portland Walk, in Barrow.

Riddick received a 35 week custodial sentence back in August for stealing items in a three-day shoplifting spree in Barrow town centre.

He had been banned for two years from shops including Tesco in Rawlinson Street, TK Maxx in Hollywood Park, Debenhams and Morrisons.

Back in August 2019, when Riddick received the banning order, spokeswoman for the Barrow Problem Solving Team said: “Riddick is a prolific shoplifting offender well-known to the police and the courts.

“The offending targeted both local businesses and bigger chains, causing sustainable losses, distress and a wider impact to these business owners. Riddick’s CBOs will last for two years, until 5 August 2021.”