A Sainsbury’s staff worker has suffered from minor head injuries after a shoplifter allegedly attacked him in one of the chain’s Southampton stores.
Police received reports that a man went into the supermarket on Portswood Road, attempting to steal several drinks in the early hours of Tuesday.
The alleged shoplifter verbally abused staff members and assaulted a male store colleague, leaving him with minor injuries to his head.
Officers have confirmed that the force has charged Jobie Michael Cross with theft, common assault, racially/religiously aggravated fear/provocation of violence by words/writing and using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Police received reports that in the early hours of Tuesday a man went into the supermarket on Portswood road, attempting to steal several drinks
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Cross, of no fixed abode, has been summoned to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court today.
This news has followed another serious assault along Portswood Road - the same street - which was reported to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Police received reports just after 5am on Sunday after two members of the public found a man in his 20s with a suspected stab wound to his neck.
The victim has been taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries.
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Officers have since appealed to the wider community for further information.
They believe that several walkers and drivers must have encountered the victim the morning of the crime along the busy road.
Appealing for support, the police said: "If you were in the area between 4am and 5am and saw or spoke to a man with a serious injury to his neck, we are keen to hear from you.
"We would also like to hear from anyone who was driving through Portswood Road at this time and has dash cam footage which may have captured the victim."
However, they assured the public that they believe the incident to have been an "isolated" one which involved individuals who knew each other.
Cross is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 7 November
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This attack has marked the second stabbing in the city within a fortnight, following a man, described to have been in his 40s, after a quarrel on Victoria Road on October 26.
Another victim, 18, was seriously injured after a stabbing took place on the outskirts of the city in Fair Oak on October 31.
Responding to the rise in brutal assaults, Portswood ward councillor Katherine Barbour said: "Events like these in our local neighbourhood are very rare and I'm shocked and very sad that this has happened.
"Clearly there needs to be a prioritisation of work in this area by the local police force, and they need to have the resources to enable them to be able to follow up those issues that are happening in our city now.
"There’s a real need for the resources to be there, and unfortunately they are really struggling to do investigations and the work they need to be doing."
