A SHOPLIFTER who targeted Marks and Spencer in Northwich three times – before threatening Runcorn store staff with an axe – has been jailed for five years.
Jamie Goffett, 29 and from Galemeade in Liverpool, stole £4,500 worth of clothing from the Leicester Street M&S between November 5 and December 14 last year.
He also possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, when he threatened Co-op staff in Murdishaw, Runcorn, with an axe during an armed robbery on January 24.
The axe used in the Runcorn armed robbery
By entering Cheshire to commit the offence, he broke bail conditions handed to him following his Northwich crimes.
He stole a quantity of gloves from M&S on Monday, November 5 and a quantity of scarves from the store on Friday, December 7.
When Goffett returned to the store the following Friday, December 14 he was recognised and followed outside by security staff.
When he realised that he was being followed Goffett discarded a bag of stolen clothing from M&S and ran off towards Chesterway, where he was arrested by officers soon after.
Evidence of Goffett’s shoplifting was captured via the store’s CCTV cameras.
DC Phil Brown said: “Liverpool man Jamie Goffett was banned from entering Cheshire after he was charged with stealing more than £4,500 worth of clothing items from an M&S store in Northwich.
Marks and Spencer in Leicester Street, Northwich
“Yet just over a month after being caught for the three shoplifting offences Goffett returned to Cheshire to commit an armed robbery in Runcorn.
“He subjected staff to a terrifying ordeal, threatening them with an axe, which he smashed against a till and a till counter.
“Goffett ended up stealing just over £100 from the store. For that offence alone he was handed a prison sentence of four years and four months.
“We take all reports of robbery extremely seriously at Cheshire Constabulary and officers are committed to doing all they can to ensure that those responsible are traced and brought to justice.
“Goffett was located at an address in Runcorn after his failed attempts to elude police and I am delighted that he is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.
“I hope that the custodial sentence handed down by Chester Crown Court brings some closure to Goffett’s victims and provides reassurance to the local community that offences such as these will not be tolerated.”
Goffett fled the Runcorn store on foot with a quantity of cash, but was identified by officers.
The axe and bag he used were discovered by police at an address in Bournemouth Close, Runcorn, within hours of the robbery taking place.
Goffett himself was then located and arrested at an address in Woodridge, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, on Friday, February 22.
Ch Insp Sarah Heath, of Runcorn LPU, said: “I would like to thank the officers who have been involved in this case for all their hard work in securing this conviction.
“Hopefully the sentence Goffett has been handed will serve as a deterrent to other people and stop them from committing similar crimes.”
At Chester Crown Court today, April 26, Goffett was jailed for five years and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.
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