A SHOPKEEPER’S attempts to prevent a thief repeatedly taking alcohol ended when the shoplifter produced a knife.

Hoan Van Dinh, who has run California Wines in Tonge Moor Road, Bolton for 14 years, was repeatedly targeted by thief David Toole.

At Bolton Crown Court, Rob Hall, prosecuting, told how 28-year-old Toole would walk into the shop and help himself to alcohol from the shelves without paying.

At 9.15pm on August 8 Toole went into the to the off-licence with another person and then, while they were paying for goods, Toole stole alcohol worth £4.50.

“There was the suggestion that if he (the shopkeeper) told police then he would kill him,” said Mr Hall

The following day Toole walked into the shop again and this time took £11 worth of drink and then again, on August 10 at 4.15pm, Toole stole alcohol worth £5.50.

In a bid to identify the thief, fed-up Mr Van Dinh circulated a photograph of him and obtained a bat.

“Mr Van Dinh had a wooden bat in the hope he might need it to prevent him taking any more goods,” said Mr Hall.

On August 20, Toole arrived at the shop and, again, stole alcohol worth £10.

But when he realised there was a bat, Toole pulled out a knife with a 25cm blade.

“He made it quite clear to Mr Van Dihn that he had it,” said Mr Hall.

Toole, of Dunoon Drive, Sharples, was arrested two days later and, via a video link to court from Forest Bank prison, pleaded guilty to robbery and three counts of theft.

Judge Timothy Stead heard that Toole has committed 56 previous offences, but this is his first conviction for robbery.

Mark Friend, defending, said Toole had been drinking heavily.

“Following some domestic issues in the summer of 2017 he rather lost his way.

“He was drinking prodigious amounts of alcohol,” said Mr Friend, adding that Toole had also been carrying the knife for protection after receiving threats in the community.

“He knows that there will be a sentence of some length of immediate custody and does not, in any way, suggest he does not deserve it,” said Mr Friend.

Jailing him for two years and eight months, Judge Stead said he accepted Toole was intoxicated at the time of the robbery.