An Iceland worker went on a forklift truck rampage in a warehouse after being suspended from his job. Jake Sharpe, of Dee View Road in Connah's Quay, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, April 4.
The court heard from prosecutor Justin Espie that police were dispatched to the Iceland warehouse on Second Avenue, in Deeside, after reports that someone was "trying to run over staff whilst driving a forklift truck." At 1am, officers found the 26-year-old driving around a freezer unit.
North Wales Live (NWL) reports that Sharpe was told moments before the incident that his bosses were suspending him from work, which he then responded to the effect of: "You can f*** off, you'll have to get police here to remove me." Sharpe then got into the forklift and drove towards security staff in the warehouse with his middle finger raised. Get the latest court cases sent to your email inbox with our Crime & Punishment newsletter.
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Mr Espie explained that Sharpe eventually stopped and gave himself up to the authority. The Probation Service told the court that Sharpe had worked for Iceland for around four years before the incident.
NWL reports that Sharpe accepted that the way he handled the two-tonne forklift could have caused "serious harm" to his colleagues that night, that he acted recklessly and apologised for his reaction. Defending, Lorraine McClure, said her client, Sharpe, was "determined to turn his life around" after the incident.
Deputy District Judge John Rowan said it was clear that Sharpe could have killed someone when carrying out what he branded a "revenge attack." He added: "You clearly lost your temper and weren't thinking straight."
Sharpe's 12-week prison sentence was suspended for a year and he was also ordered to complete 90 hours of unpaid work, complete a thinking skills programme and pay £200 compensation.
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