Kaidan Scally, aged 20, tried to take £36.47 of cleaning products from B&M on Manchester Road, Bolton, on April 10 last year.
Scally, of Freshfield Avenue, Atherton, was caught by a security guard at the checkout, before telling him to “get the f*** off my bag” and pushing him.
He was brought before Bolton Crown Court on February 13 to be sentenced for the offences.
Prosecuting, Justin Hayhoe said: “On April 10 last year, the defendant and his partner, Demi Mountford, were at B&M on Manchester Road. They had two children with them.
“Both he and his partner were looking around the store, taking items from the shelf and putting them into a bag which was attached to a pram.
“At the register they only declared a few items for purchase, but the security guard had been watching them. He told them to pay for all the goods or leave them.
“The defendant became verbally abusive and threatened the security guard. He said ‘get the f** off my bag’ and pushed him, causing him to stumble.”
CCTV footage was played in court, upon which Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said: “It is good to see staff impeding the progress. Staff in this day and age are discouraged from preventing theft.
“I praise the security staff for preventing this obvious shoplifting, it is a shame it occurs so often. I am sure the management of B&M are very proud of the staff who, properly and professionally behaving, did what they could to prevent theft from the shop.”
Mr Hayhoe added that Demi Mountford was previously given a community disposal for the offence.
Scally pleaded guilty to common assault and attempted theft from a shop.
The offences were committed while he was on a suspended sentence for burglary, the court heard.
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Defending, Neil Ronan said: “It is of deep regret to the defendant and his partner.
“The taking of cleaning products from B&M is low down the list in terms of severity and the offence is of some vintage now.”
Mr Ronan highlighted how Scally has almost completed a qualification in operating diggers, which will keep him in jobs” target=”_blank”>work so he would not “have the time nor inclination to trouble the court”.
He added that the attempted theft was to “provide for his children”.
Mr Ronan added that both the defendant and his partner are “very young” and that she doesn’t work.
Judge Clarke said: “Because she goes out and steals with him, unfortunately. She needs to find something better to fill her time.”
Concluding, he said: “You are still only 20, you have responsibilities as a family man to provide for your children and partner.
“You have chosen a life of crime so far, but it is time to grow up. I don’t know what you were doing taking your children out stealing.
“They are very young and probably don’t appreciate what you are doing, but if you continue, they would be visiting you in prison, aware of the man you are and the criminal you are.”
Judge Clarke sentenced Scally to a two-year community order, with 18 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He also extended the previous suspended sentence for a further six months, until February next year.
Closing, he added: “You are nearly 21, man up.”
