A 49-year-old man who walked into Greggs with a knife and demanded cash has been jailed.
Leon Langford, of Wirral View, Mostyn, admitted attempted robbery and possessing a knife in a public place following the incident in Queensferry, Flintshire, on 5 January.
He also admitted three counts of shoplifting and attempted theft following a number of other offences that day.
At Mold Crown Court on Wednesday, 25 February, Langford was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
At around 7.30am on January 5, Langford walked into Greggs on Station Road, pointing a kitchen knife inches away from a staff member’s chest, demanding he handed over money from the till.
The worker went to get a manager, but before he returned, Langford had left the bakery empty handed.
The knife was recovered later that day.
Minutes before, Langford had been into the Spar on Station Road and stolen food. It came after he’d also been into Adsa in Queensferry that morning, where he’d attempted to steal a TV.
Following the incident at Greggs, Langford had also attended Tesco in Holywell, where he concealed items in a bag and left the store without paying.
Investigating officer, civilian investigator Ann Parry said: “Incidents involving knives are unpredictable and have the potential to escalate rapidly into something far more tragic.
“We also recognise that the impact of the incident at Greggs extended into the community, creating concern and distress locally.
“Langford’s sentence will give local businesses the respite they deserve from his prolific offending, and we hope this result will reassure local businesses and their customers that we take retail crime seriously and will do everything we can to protect them from these offences.”
