A serial shoplifter struck a man attempting to stop him while fleeing from a supermarket car park in a stolen car.  

Simon Robinson was drunk when he got behind the wheel of a Ford C-Max and tried to speed off outside the Asda store on Hall Road in Norwich. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told a man suffered minor injuries after being hit while standing next to the car as it set off.

READ MORE: Norwich shoplifter with 386 previous offences back in prison

The 52-year-old, who has six previous convictions for 11 offences including several for thefts, was later arrested after being pursued by police at high speed.

Simon Robinson pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates' CourtSimon Robinson pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

The incident on March 6 this year came as he was attempting to get away after stealing a bottle of Captain Morgan rum and two bottles of Diet Coke.

Robinson, of Rosary Road in Norwich, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drink driving and theft from a shop.

He also admitted stealing the car from Stoke Holy Cross and driving without insurance. 

Deputy District Judge Sundeep Pankhania said: “The car was taken from a friend’s house where he was staying without her consent.”

The offences came despite him still being subject to a community order imposed for previous shop thefts, the court was told.

Robinson was driving a stolen car when he tried to flee after shoplifting at AsdaRobinson was driving a stolen car when he tried to flee after shoplifting at Asda (Image: Google)

READ MORE: Record number of shoplifting crimes recorded in Norfolk

His actions were too serious to be sentenced at the magistrates court, which had insufficient powers, said Deputy District Judge Pankhania.

He committed him to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on the week of September 16.

Dangerous driving can carry up to two years imprisonment while taking without the owner's consent and drunk driving can result in custody.

He was given an interim disqualification banning him from driving until his sentencing.

Shoplifting crimes in Norfolk reached a record high in the past year.

Figures from the Home Office show there were 4,967 shop thefts recorded in the year to March – a 26pc increase from 3,932 the year before.