'Animal' shoplifter's jail sentence slashed

Terry Michael Baxter (25), of Elm Grove, Rotherham, was jailed for two years at Doncaster Crown Court in January after admitting theft and two counts of assault with intent to resist arrest.

But Judge Michael Baker QC, sitting at the Appeal Court in London with Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Maddison, ruled that the sentence was “manifestly excessive” and cut it to 18 months.

The court had heard that Baxter was an habitual shoplifter who had been confronted by a security guard and the shop manager as he tried to flee a Somerfield store in Manchester on July 24 last year.

There had been a violent struggle during which Baxter “fought ferociously like an animal in an attempt to resist arrest.”

He had bitten the shop manager and the security guard had suffered leg injuries in the tussle.

The shop manager had been left suffering from stress because he had needed a number of blood tests because of the risk of infection.

Terry Michael Baxter (25), of Elm Grove, Rotherham, was jailed for two years at Doncaster Crown Court in January after admitting theft and two counts of assault with intent to resist arrest.

But Judge Michael Baker QC, sitting at the Appeal Court in London with Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Maddison,ruled that the sentence was “manifestly excessive” and cut it to 18 months.

The court had heard that Baxter was an habitual shoplifter who had been confronted by a security guard and the shop manager as he tried to flee a Somerfield store in Manchester on July 24 last year.

There had been a violent struggle during which Baxter “fought ferociously like an animal in an attempt to resist arrest.”

He had bitten the shop manager and the security guard had suffered leg injuries in the tussle.

The shop manager had been left suffering from stress because he had needed a number of blood tests because of the risk of infection.