A KNIFE and syringe-wielding heroin addict who terrorised shop workers has been jailed.

“Aggressive, intimidating and violent” Douglas Strike admitted a range of crimes, including pulling out a knife on a supermarket shop worker, threatening a store assistant with a syringe and spitting at a female police officer.

Appearing from prison via video link at Winchester Crown Court, the homeless 29-year-old at times chuckled to himself as prosecutor Sadie Rizzo outlined his “volatile and abusive” behaviour.

Mrs Rizzo explained how Strike, a serial offender, had entered Sainsbury’s in Andover on June 6 when he was caught stealing food.

On exiting the store, he was confronted by a staff member who asked him to give back the stolen items, leading Strike to throw a curry-flavoured ready meal to the floor.

After a brief argument, Strike then pulled out a small knife and threatened to stab the member of staff.

The “shocked” employee put his hands in the air and said he wanted “no trouble”, causing Strike to walk away.

Strike then turned back and shouted “you have not seen the last of me Mr Sainsbury’s”, before leaving the area.

Just two days later, the 29-year-old was again caught stealing, this time a pack of cereal bars from Poundland.

Strike was confronted by a female staff member, who he verbally abused using a highly offensive swearword.

She replied “you are not welcome here” as the prolific offender walked away.

Minutes later, Strike walked around the back of the store where he confronted the same member of staff with a syringe.

Shouting “you can’t bar me”, he walked towards her while chewing one of the stolen cereal bars.

He later hurled the halfeaten snack at her face, before being confronted by a lorry driver. He was later arrested by police.

Strike’s abuse continued even after his detainment.

While being read out his charges the 29-year-old began to sing loudly, and spat at the officer through a flap in his cell door.

According to Mrs Rizzo, the spit hit the arm of the female officer, who was left feeling “disgusted”.

Mrs Rizzo outlined Strike was a serial offender and had already amassed 25 convictions and 73 offences over his lifetime.

These include a number of offences similar to his most recent crimes, including abusing staff at ASDA and headbutting a member of staff in Andover’s Lidl store.

Defending, David Castle said Strike’s offending had escalated following a diagnosis of schizophrenia several years ago.

According to Mr Castle, Strike was later moved to a hostel where he developed an addiction to Class A drugs, including heroin.

Strike was sentenced to 18 months in prison.