Prolific thief jailed after targeting three supermarkets in Bedford

Scott Turley, 38, from High Street, Bedford was jailed on Tuesday (September 17) at Luton Crown Court.

On March 6, Turley entered Sainsbury’s in Clapham Road and stole three bottles of alcohol. When confronted by a member of staff he threatened to stab them and ran away from the shop.

Just a couple of days later, on March 10, he and another man went to Tesco in Cardington Road.

The second man stole a number of bottles of alcohol, but was confronted by a staff member when he tried to leave, causing him to drop his basket and run away.

The staff member attempted to take the stolen alcohol back, but was pushed by Turley who grabbed two bottles and ran away.

On March 19, Turley targeted another Tesco store in Riverfield Drive where he filled a basket with food and alcohol. Again, he was confronted by staff and was escorted out of the shop. Just before leaving he took a needle from his pocket and threatened staff.

Sergeant Ted Rowland said: “Turley is a nasty individual who continually threatened staff in order to steal small amounts of alcohol.

"Nobody should have to deal with the levels of violence he displayed when they go to work. I am satisfied with the sentence imposed by the judge, as his unacceptable behaviour left the victims of his crime understandably shaken.

"Turley’s time behind bars will hopefully give him an opportunity to reconsider his actions and learn from them.”

Turley was jailed for four years for robbery, and was handed a further eight weeks for breach of a suspended sentence, which will run consecutively.

He received two nine-month sentences to run concurrently for two counts of possession of a bladed article in a public place following the incidents in Clapham Road and Riverfield Drive, and a further 12 months to run concurrently for the offence in the Tesco store on Cardington Road.