Serial criminal broke ankle trying to get away after being accused of shoplifting in Morrisons
A serial criminal broke his ankle in his bid to get away after he was accused of shoplifting in a supermarket.
Louis Downs kicked a metal fire exit and fell down some stairs while leaving Morrisons in South Shields, South Tyneside, after he was reported to the police for stealing on November 16 2024.
Newcastle Crown Court heard police found him lying injured outside the store and he was taken to hospital.
Despite police officers trying help him, Downs lashed out and attacked two of them.
Prosecutor Neil Pallister said: "Officers attended Morrisons on Ocean Road in south Shields, it was reported a shoplifter was outside the store.
"On arrival officers found him lying outside with an ankle injury.
"Officers were told he had been in the store stealing and in order to make off he had kicked a metal fire exit and fallen down some stairs.
"It appeared he had a broken ankle."
The court heard while one officer went into the supermarket another stayed with Downs while they waited for an ambulance.
Downs started making threats to the officer with him, warning what would happen "if I didn't have a broken leg" and he punched the officer's leg then shouted abuse.
Mr Pallister said while Downs was in South Tyneside Hospital he issued more threats and kicked a police officer.
In August last year Downs crept in through an open kitchen door at a house in Sunderland and stole a box containing two coins that the victim kept as collectors' items.
Downs, 36, of Victoria Place, Sunderland, admitted two charges of assault on an emergency worker and burglary.
The court heard he has convictions for 83 offences on his record. Recorder Toby Hedworth KC sentenced him to a total of 33 months behind bars.
Gurjot Kaur, defending, said Downs was struggling with his mental health at the time of the offences and "wasn't in a good place".
Miss Kaur said Downs did not cause damage or smash windows to enter the home he burgled.