A KNIFE and syringe-wielding heroin addict who terrorised shop workers in stores across Andover has been jailed.

“Aggressive, intimidating and violent” Douglas Strike, pictured, was given an 18-month prison term by Judge Keith Cutler during a sentencing at Winchester Crown Court last Wednesday.

The homeless 29-year-old was jailed after pleading guilty to a range of crimes, including pulling out a knife on a supermarket shop worker, threatening a store assistant with a syringe and spitting at a female police officer.

Appearing from prison via video link, Strike at times chuckled to himself as prosecutor Sadie Rizzo outlined his “volatile and abusive” behaviour.

Mrs Rizzo explained how Strike, a serial offender, had entered Sainsbury’s in Andover on June 6 when he was caught stealing food.

On exiting the store, he was confronted by a staff member who asked him to give back the stolen items, leading Strike to throw a curry-flavoured ready meal to the floor.

After a brief argument, Strike then pulled out a small knife and threatened to stab the member of staff.

The “shocked” employee put his hands in the air and said he wanted “no trouble”, causing Strike to walk away.

Strike then turned back and shouted “you have not seen the last of me Mr Sainsbury’s”, before leaving the area.

Just two days later, the 29-year-old was again caught stealing, this time a pack of cereal bars from Poundland.

Strike was confronted by a female staff member, who he verbally abused using a highly offensive swearword.

She replied “you are not welcome here” as the prolific offender walked away.

Minutes later, Strike walked around the back of the store where he confronted the same member of staff with a syringe.

Shouting “you can’t bar me”, he walked towards her while chewing one of the stolen cereal bars.

He later hurled the halfeaten snack at her face, before being confronted by a lorry driver. He was later arrested by police.

Strike’s abuse continued even after his detainment.

While being read out his charges the 29-year-old began to sing loudly, and spat at the officer through a flap in his cell door.

According to Mrs Rizzo, the spit hit the arm of the female officer, who was left feeling “disgusted”.

Mrs Rizzo outlined Strike was a serial offender and had already amassed 25 convictions and 73 offences over his lifetime.

These include a number of offences similar to his most recent crimes, including abusing staff at ASDA and headbutting a member of staff in Andover’s Lidl store.

Defending, David Castle said Strike’s offending had escalated following a diagnosis of schizophrenia several years ago.

According to Mr Castle, Strike was later moved to a hostel where he developed an addiction to Class A drugs, including heroin.

Mr Castle said his client would often “steal to eat”, rather than for profit, and as a homeless man was often subject to abuse from drunk passers-by, who would treat him like a “human football”.

He added that Strike felt like he was in a “revolving door” with prison, due in part to a lack of support..

Sentencing, Judge Cutler complimented Mr Castle’s “eloquent defence” but said Strike’s behaviour would “not be tolerated”.

He said: “I take the view that your offending has been very upsetting towards people who do not deserve it.

“These are people that are shopkeepers that are just trying to do their job and you come along with your aggression, intimidation and violence.

“Let me tell you, this court will not tolerate that.”

Judge Cutler sentenced Strike to two consecutive six month sentences for the knife and syringe offences.

He added a further three months for the spitting incident and three months for breaching a previous court order, resulting in a total sentence length of 18 months.

Judge Cutler added: “By the time you are released you will probably be 30 years old and hopefully you will start to make something of your life.

“I hope that the towns of Hampshire will not be blighted again by your offending.”