A READING man who told supermarket staff he had coronavirus, HIV and hepatitis after threatening them with a syringe has been locked up.

Darren Brown, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, was drunk and under the influence of drugs when he entered an Aldi supermarket on July 21.

Here, he stole two bottles of whisky in order to fund a drug habit, the court heard.

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The 42-year-old was approached by staff about the bottles of whisky and dropped and smashed one when challenged.

He was taken outside by security when staff spotted a pair of broken scissors in his waistband.

Brown then produced a syringe, telling the supermarket staff to back off as he had HIV, hepatitis and coronavirus.

The incident led to Brown pleading guilty to theft from a shop, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and threatening a person with a sharp object in a public place.

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These convictions brought him before Recorder Carlton at Reading Crown Court for his sentencing on Friday afternoon (November 26).

The recorder revealed Brown has 68 previous convictions for 148 offences.

She claimed he has displayed an “entrenched pattern” of shoplifting.

Despite this, the Recorder indicated Brown had not premeditated his syringe threats.

Refusing pleas from Brown to explain his actions that day as he appeared from custody via live video link, Recorder Carlton sentenced the 42-year-old to ten months behind bars.