A thief who threatened staff at a Tesco store with a knife has been jailed for 18 months.

Stephen Bangs, 32, of Bullsmoor Way, Waltham Cross, was jailed for 18 months at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, January 6 after pleading guilty to theft, handling stolen goods and making threats with an offensive weapon in a public place.

The 32-year old was arrested after police were called to Tesco Express, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield at 10.37pm on Saturday, December 13 to reports of a man in possession of a knife.

When officers arrived Tesco staff took them to the staff room where they found Mr Bangs with a security officer from the store.

Staff members told police that Bangs had stolen meat products and placed them in his coat and bag.

When staff stopped him and told him to return the items, he threatened them with a small, black handled knife with a blade of around six centimetres.

Staff, with help from a customer, took the knife from him and led him to the area at the back of the store where officers later arrested him.

After being searched in custody, he was found to be in possession of passports, bank cards, a cheque book, 1,500 Indian rupees in cash and a diary. The documents were not in his name and had been stolen from a vehicle in Hertfordshire in December.

PC Ben Hillier from Enfield CID said: "The incident could have resulted in someone being seriously injured and I welcome the sentence the court has passed. I would like to praise Tesco store staff and the member of the public for their bravery which resulted in this offender being brought to justice."