Cop catches fleeing shoplifter who stole Manuka honey and takes him off getaway bike

A serial shoplifter suffered instant karma when a police officer threw him from a bike as he tried to flee a supermarket with alcohol and manuka honey.

Dramatic footage shows notorious thief Gareth Heywood, 56, furiously walking away from a plainclothes police officer who was running after him.

In a heroic intervention, the officer then lunges at Heywood who is sent sprawling on the road.

Heywood is then heard shouting “Fucking hell man!” before the calm officers handcuffed him.

The thief was arrested on September 9 after he was spotted stealing alcohol from a store in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

THIS is the dramatic moment Gareth Heywood was knocked to the ground after a shoplifting incident.

The heroic police officer chased Heywood and caught him before knocking him to the ground.

He also admitted stealing four jars of expensive manuka honey – which costs up to £100 a jar – from a city center store.

Heywood, of no fixed address, admitted seven counts of shop theft and bank card fraud and was jailed for 24 weeks.

His arrest was one of 225 made by Warwickshire Police between November last year and September this year as part of a crackdown on shoplifting.

During this period, goods worth £50,000 were recovered and the crooks were jailed for a total of 16 and a half years.

Another prolific thief, Thomas Johnstone, 37, from Coventry, was jailed for 30 months for a string of thefts.

He admitted ten counts of shoplifting food and alcohol worth £1,700 and two counts of assaulting shop workers.

He was arrested on August 6 after he was spotted stealing 12 bottles of wine from a store in Cubbington in Leamington Spa.

Police have released footage of their most dramatic arrests as they launch the ‘We Are Everywhere’ Safer Businesses Week of Action.

Heywood, of no fixed address, admitted seven counts of shop theft and bank card fraud and was jailed for 24 weeks.

Heywood was left lying on the ground before being arrested for stealing alcohol and manuka honey.

Officers from the force’s Investigation Stands and Outcomes (IOC) team also recovered £50,000 worth of stolen goods.

Sergeant Ben James-Pemberton said: “We are really pleased with this result.

“Seeing two such prolific shoplifters behind bars will no doubt be a relief to local businesses.

“As can be seen in Johnstone’s case, shoplifting not only has a financial impact on businesses, but can also lead to violence against staff.

“We will not tolerate this and will continue to work with local businesses to resolve this issue.”