Serial shop thief jailed after armed raid

A prolific thief who threatened shop staff with a knife has been jailed for more than six years.

Steven Baker, whom West Midlands Police described as a serial offender in Wolverhampton, armed himself with the knife to commit some of his crimes.

The 46-year-old from the city was arrested in Chesterton Road last July following a robbery at a shop in Prestwood Road a week earlier, when a member of staff was threatened with a knife when items were taken.

He was jailed for six years and six months after being convicted of two robberies, six thefts and two counts of possessing a knife at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He was also convicted of attempted robbery and possession with intent to supply a class A drug at the court on 30 March.

West Midlands Police said it was working to target repeat retail crime offenders in the city, and four business crime officers were looking at issues along with two police community support officers.

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