A VIOLENT thief brandished a knife at two shop workers simply doing their job.

Mark Collinson swore at two men working at Yau Brothers Asian supermarket before pulling a knife from his pocket.

The 42-year-old bit one of the men on the fingers and spat at the other but was “taken to the floor” during the incident on September 18 this year.

Collinson had been asked to leave the store in Princes Street, Southampton having been recognised him as a suspected shoplifter, a court heard.

Prosecution barrister, Lucy Conroy told how he then pushed an officer while in police custody later that day.

During his first hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court he jumped over the dock, screamed and ran out of the building after being refused bail.

He was arrested the next day on Shirley High Street.

With 64 convictions to 153 offences, Collision had threatened to stab an employee while shoplifting at a Wilkos store in Southampton on September 9.

His past crimes include battery, assaulting a police officer and robbery.

Collison of Mansbridge Road in Eastleigh appeared before Southampton Crown Court on Friday charged with three counts of assault, possession of a bladed article and escaping from lawful custody - he previously pleaded guilty. Defending, Chris Gaiger, said his client has battled drug addiction and had requested bail to attend his father’s funeral.

Mr Recorder Barry McElduff jailed him for two years.