A VIOLENT shoplifter attempting to flee with a stolen laptop computer bit the finger of a courageous Carlisle store boss who tried to stop him.

As he tried to escape from the manager of the Kingstown branch of Currys, Constantin Soponaru, 29, bit the man’s finger 'to the bone', the city’s court heard. The defendant was convicted of theft and an actual bodily harm assault.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson described what happened.

The offences happened on September 29 when Soponaru was seen in the Kingstown store, heading towards the exit while holding an Asus laptop computer worth £1,200, which he made no attempt to pay for.

“He’d removed it from a display, leaving the power supply behind,” said Mr Rogerson.

Having seen this, the store manager followed the defendant out of the store and saw him running away, dodging through traffic to escape, but the manager gave chase. He quickly caught up with Soponaru, who had dropped the laptop.

The manager tried to recover the laptop and restrain the defendant, aiming to keep him where he was until the police arrived.

“But Mr Soponaru bit [the store manager's] index finger, cutting through to the bone,” said the prosecutor.

Because of this, the victim released his grip of the thief, who ran away. He was found a short time later by police as he tried to hide behind a tree.

The store manager needed hospital treatment for his finger injury, which was repaired with five stitches. He also had injections to protect him from possible infections, including from conditions such as hepatitis B.

Despite being clearly identified, the defendant denied any wrongdoing and chose to have a trial before magistrates, who convicted him.

The court heard that at the time of offending, Soponaru was serving a suspended sentence for an earlier theft, when he and two accomplices stole electrical goods worth £7,500 from another Carlisle store.

It also emerged that the defendant has convictions for a variety of serious offences, including previous thefts, robbery and assaults.

His previous 18 offences relate to offending in the UK, Italy and his native Romania.

Rachel Hedworth, defending, said Soponaru was in Carlisle that day with a friend who was in the area to buy car parts.

“He went into Currys with the intention of purchasing a charger for his mobile phone,” said the barrister.

“He simply took the opportunity with the laptop when it arose.”

Miss Hedworth went on to outline what she was the 'tragic background' of Soponaru, who has spoken of working in his early life as a professional footballer in Romania.

But his parents had both died and he became involved in a fight.

He came to the UK and felt that his life almost ended as he began taking heroin. He had moved to Newcastle and become a father. But, having lost his documents, he was unable to claim benefits, said Miss Hedworth.

“He’s absolutely devastated by his actions and extremely sorry about the impact on the employee,” added the barrister.

Judge Michael Fanning noted the defendant’s record, including the robberies, offences of going equipped for theft, a previous actual bodily harm assault, and the theft in Carlisle when he and two accomplices stole electrical goods worth £7,500.

“Your record shows what you are – a roaming thief, who is prepared to use violence when it is necessary,” said the judge.

Referring to the Currys offences, the judge said what happened was not spontaneous as he claimed.

Judge Fanning said: “You go out to steal and you did that on this occasion, and somebody tried to stop you. When the manager of that store caught you, you didn’t do what many shoplifters do and simply accept being caught.

“You fought back and bit his finger to the bone. He needed five stiches; he needed injections; he needed blood tests.”

The victim had to live with the fear that the defendant may have been carrying an infectious disease.

Judge Fanning jailed Soponaru, of Hampstead Road, Newcastle, for two years and two months.