Man who threatened to stab security guard jailed

Ryan Lee Preston pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a knife

A man who threatened to stab a shop security guard in Harrogate has been jailed for two years.

Ryan Lee Preston took three bottles of spirits off the shelf in Asda on Bower Road and, when challenged by a security guard, showed him a knife in his waistband and said, "do you want to get stabbed?".

He continued out of the store and told the guard, who was following him, "stop or I will stab you tonight" before fleeing, North Yorkshire Police said.

The 26-year-old, of no fixed abode, admitted robbery and possession of a knife and was jailed at York Crown Court on Friday.

Det Con Dave Hunton gave his thanks to the guard who "bravely challenged" Preston multiple times despite the threats made to him.

"This was an audacious crime and a frightening situation for the victim who went above and beyond to do his job," he said.

"The security guard was extremely brave and thanks to him, a dangerous man who thought nothing of making serious violent threats to a person doing their job, is now behind bars."

He said Preston, knowing he had been caught on CCTV, shaved his head to avoid being caught but was arrested a short time after the investigation was launched.

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