Moment beer thief pretending to need wheelchair jumps up and attacks Sainsbury’s security

A man who tried to rob a Sainsbury’s in a wheelchair before miraculously regaining the use of his legs to jump up and attack a security guard has been jailed.

Davey Brown, 19, pretended to be a wheelchair user before launching stolen beer cans at a member of staff who tried to stop him from leaving the store in Staplehurst, Kent.

Brown’s crime spree began on the evening of 3 June, when he crashed into a stationary vehicle in Four Elms Road, Edenbridge, while on his way to the shops.

When the victim got out of the car, Brown drove at her before speeding away through a red light.

Shortly after, he arrived at Sainsbury’s in Station Road where he pretended to be a wheelchair user, assisted by an unidentified accomplice.

While he was wheeling around the store, he stashed two crates of beer beneath a jacket on his lap as he attempted to leave without paying.

When challenged by a security guard Brown punched and threw beer bottles as he tried to escape.

Another shop employee was injured by one of the throwables.

Brown ran from the area but was detained by officers 30 minutes later, responding with a barrage of threats and verbal abuse.

The 19-year-old, of Winch’s Garth in Staplehurst, was charged with robbery, affray, two counts of damaging property, common assault, using threatening words and behaviour, and using a motor vehicle on a road without insurance.

Brown pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced to three years and one month’s imprisonment on Thursday 6 November.

A 17-year-old boy was also arrested and charged in connection with the theft.

He was sentenced on 12 July to serve six months’ imprisonment in a young offenders’ institute.

Investigating officer, PC Ricky Strong, said: ‘Brown is a violent man who endangered another motorist, attacked a security guard and their colleague, and made threats to attending police officers. 

‘He left a man with injuries requiring hospital treatment for simply carrying out his job.

‘A custodial sentence means Brown will be unable to put any other members of the public at risk for some time.’

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