- 1 day ago
Taking Down the Shoplifting Gangs S01E01 (23rd Feb 2026)
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00:01When shoplifters strike...
00:03Police emergency.
00:05Our security guards have been stabbed in the leg.
00:07Oh.
00:08He smashed up a load of things.
00:10Grabbed our manager and then gone.
00:12The offending behaviour is getting out of control.
00:14When he was arrested, he was in possession of a lock knife.
00:18Can they be caught?
00:20I believe that you've been shoplifting this morning.
00:22Will you stand up for me?
00:24Oh!
00:25It's really shocking how in prison they've gotten...
00:28...from the lone wolves...
00:31...to organised crime gangs.
00:33They still almost order high-value items
00:36to get the biggest bang for their buck.
00:38Anyone up here?
00:39Aha! Bingo!
00:41Cigarettes.
00:44These guys had extensive criminal histories across Europe.
00:48This series follows the police forces...
00:50Let's go and get some results.
00:52...on the hunt...
00:53Stop. Plain clothes, please. Plain clothes, please. Stop. Stop.
00:56You're under arrest for death.
00:56Do you know why we have stopped you?
00:59...attempting to protect the victims...
01:01Yes, yes.
01:02You all right, mate?
01:03What's M-wise given ETA-wise?
01:04Eat more time, isn't it?
01:05I thought that's unacceptable.
01:07This is life-threatening.
01:08...and bring down the criminals.
01:10Shoplifting is a crime.
01:11We want to bring offenders to justice, and that is not easy.
01:14You're under arrest.
01:15You're under arrest.
01:16Complete assault.
01:16I don't believe somebody could do it.
01:17No.
01:18No.
01:19No.
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07:03At a supermarket
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09:07He's basically
09:17So, he's ripped out of the
09:19The stand, like the stand, like the bit of the stand, like the bit of the stand, like the bit
09:20of the stand, like the bit of the stand that the make-ups were carrying, like the bit of the
09:22stand that the make-ups were carrying, a total of £900.
09:24He's fit to be interviewed, so we need to get going with it really. We've got all the evidence on
09:30the investigations, so we just need to get cracking.
09:32Joe's interview with Joe's interview, so we need to get going with it.
10:03Subject to identity, it's a white male.
10:10A CCTV image of the armed choplifter recorded just before the stabbing has been circulated
10:16to all firearms units.
10:18Seems like a decent picture, especially if there's a usual round Preston.
10:23It looks quite young, doesn't it?
10:25It's a high blue jacket, isn't it?
10:27Yeah.
10:28Not facial art.
10:30I'm surprised I was recognising that picture.
10:32The knife-wielding thief has been on the run for nearly 30 minutes.
10:37Do you want to head to this hospital site?
10:41Yes.
10:52Down, down, down, right at Aqueduct Street, right at the ends.
11:03It's not.
11:08I reckon if he knows he stabbed someone, I reckon he's gone to the ground.
11:13Depends how brazen he is.
11:14He's either gone off because he knows what he's done, or he's just going to keep going
11:18shop to shop.
11:20Just look in the shops as we go past him.
11:24The hunt for the armed attacker is stepped up.
11:29It was blue, black hood there.
11:31Where?
11:32Behind us, rucksack.
11:35Black male?
11:36Yeah.
11:43It's not going to be him, is it?
11:49No.
11:50Gray pants.
11:51Gray pants on Padreos.
11:53Is it?
11:54Yeah.
12:01Yeah.
12:02Yeah.
12:03Yeah.
12:04Yeah.
12:04Yeah.
12:05Yeah.
12:05Yeah.
12:07Yeah.
12:17You've got anything on you?
12:18Have you been involved in anything earlier?
12:22You must have put your handcuffs for a second.
12:23You must have put your handcuffs while I search, yeah?
12:32Have you been involved in anything with the town centre earlier?
12:36Where?
12:37Town centre. Shoplifting.
12:40No, I'm coming from job.
12:43Take it home for his pal.
12:50He's got a bit of blood on his jacket as well, I think.
12:53Look, that's blood.
12:58His hands as well, hair.
13:03Right, do you know why we're stopping you?
13:05No, no, I don't. What? Can you say again?
13:07Do you know why we're stopping you?
13:10Do you know why we have stopped you?
13:12I don't know. I don't want to go.
13:14I can't. I can't.
13:15Pull up, I do.
13:17So I...
13:18So I pick up...
13:19Put your hands down for it.
13:20Yeah, because...
13:21What are these marks?
13:22That one?
13:24What's all that?
13:24That one is from job.
13:25Old one. You can check this blood.
13:27That jacket's similar.
13:29That hood's similar.
13:29Same colour pants, same colour trainers.
13:31Right, mate?
13:32Yeah.
13:33Until proven otherwise,
13:34I'm going to arrest you on suspicion of attempt murder.
13:37You don't say anything, mate.
13:38I mean, it's not mentioned my question.
13:39It's not related to a line of call.
13:40Attempt murder.
13:42You're just arrested on suspicion at the minute.
13:44What do you do, mate?
13:46We're stopping with mail, Edward Street.
13:48Got him locked up.
13:49He passed the prescription.
13:50Same jacket is on the call.
13:52So I'll pass the needle for it.
14:0045 minutes after the attack,
14:02the suspect is taken into custody.
14:05I'll just double check research.
14:11Careful.
14:21Detectives now begin their investigation.
14:23We've got a suspect in custody now.
14:27We have to ensure that it is the right person.
14:50On Operation Vulture,
14:52police are preparing to interview Joe,
14:54the violent shop thief who smashed bottles
14:57in a Preston supermarket.
14:58His solicitor is being briefed.
15:02So we've got three thefts from Sainsbury's in Penwoodham.
15:10But within one of the thefts,
15:12we've got a damage and an ABH.
15:17OK.
15:18A few scratches.
15:20The next job is a theft at Boots
15:23in town, at Fishergate.
15:25This is for £924.
15:29In one go?
15:29In one go.
15:30He took the whole shelf.
15:32A whole shelf of what?
15:33Of, like, beauty products like mascara,
15:35lip liner, stuff like that.
15:37He was last released July, beginning of July.
15:40Right, OK.
15:41So I think you might know which way this might go,
15:43depending on what he says in his interview.
15:44But I think he knows.
15:46Yeah, yeah, yeah.
15:47Yeah, yeah, yeah.
15:47Right.
15:48OK.
15:49Do you want me to stay in here?
15:50Yeah, I'll get him and bring him in for you.
16:06Yeah.
16:10OK.
16:11The time by my watch is 18.33.
16:14Just to let you know,
16:15this interview's been visual and audio recording, all right?
16:19So the reason we're here today is for new responses.
16:21Three thefts from Sainsbury's in Penwoodham.
16:25Part of one of them thefts,
16:26there's an allegation of an assault.
16:30There's also an allegation of a criminal damage.
16:32And there's a theft from Boots on Fishergate,
16:34which occurred on the 6th of August.
16:37It's alleged that you entered Boots the Chemist on Fishergate
16:40and stole beauty items totaled at around £924.
16:43Did you commit that offence?
16:44No problem.
16:46Did you have any consent to take these items?
16:48No problem.
16:49Did they belong to you?
16:50Did you have any means to pay?
16:51No problem.
16:52OK.
16:53It's also alleged on the 8th of August,
16:55you entered Sainsbury's.
16:57When you were in the store,
16:58did you go to the till to try and buy a bottle of cider?
17:02No problem.
17:04When challenged,
17:05did you try and take a basket of items?
17:08No problem.
17:09OK.
17:11Did you cause injury to the shop assistant's finger,
17:14which caused scratching and reddening?
17:15No problem.
17:17Did any of the items belong to you?
17:19No problem.
17:20Did you have any other means to pay?
17:22No problem.
17:22All right, OK.
17:24I'm not going to ask you any more questions.
17:26If you'd like, do you want to say anything further?
17:28Give the opportunity now.
17:33No problem.
17:34No.
17:39Following the interview,
17:40PC Ryan Ingram,
17:41who knows Joe's history of offending,
17:44goes to speak with him.
17:46He doesn't really take accountability for his actions.
17:49Regularly denies any of the offences
17:51that he's committed in the past.
17:54He might be asleep,
17:55so we'll have to see.
17:58How are we doing?
17:59All right, yeah.
18:00Yeah, you're doing OK?
18:01Yeah.
18:02You've been interviewed?
18:03Yeah, I've been interviewed, yeah.
18:05Yeah, did you want no comment?
18:06Yeah, sure, sure, yeah.
18:08So far, yeah.
18:09Did they put the CCTV to you?
18:11Normally I've got it, yeah.
18:13Yeah.
18:14Well, I've had a look this morning.
18:15Obviously, it shows you're committing that offence.
18:17Well, I don't think so.
18:18It shows you're shoplifting.
18:20No, it doesn't.
18:21It does.
18:21It shows you're taking those bottles of alcohol
18:23off the shelves and when staff try and stop you,
18:27you assault them.
18:28No, that's bullshit, man.
18:31It's not bullshit?
18:32Yeah, absolutely bullshit.
18:33She's trying to make me understand, right,
18:36how it's led to that.
18:38Because at the moment, you've had a period
18:40of about three or four months
18:41where there was no offending,
18:42you were doing all right,
18:44you looked great.
18:45I'm just trying to understand
18:46what's led to that.
18:48I'm not talking about it.
18:51Just speak to me for two seconds.
18:53No, I'm not talking about it.
18:55No.
18:55He didn't want to speak to me about it
18:57and that's sometimes how it goes,
18:59but he's still under integrated offender management
19:02so we'll continue to work with him going forward
19:05and we'll just see what the outcome is at court.
19:12Joe is charged with three shop thefts,
19:15criminal damage and assault.
19:19His hearing will take place
19:20at Preston Magistrates Court.
19:27When the shopkeeper rejects it,
19:28he pulls a knife out of his pocket.
19:30Obviously, it's quite a shocking thing to do
19:32just to get four beers.
19:55Joe, the repeat offender who assaulted supermarket staff
19:59and stole more than £900 worth of make-up,
20:02has been found guilty at court.
20:06So, you've got a 12-month suspended sentence.
20:10You can never predict what's going to happen
20:11with the courts at the moment because...
20:14Was it for the same thing, his suspended sentence?
20:17Yeah, it was for the same offence,
20:18so shoplifting.
20:18Obviously, there was an assault on this occasion as well,
20:21so I assumed that he was going to get a custodial,
20:24but it didn't happen.
20:26So, because, for me, what's the deterrent next time?
20:32Potentially, what is the deterrent?
20:34Because if he thinks he can just get a suspended sentence
20:36every time, then he's got no real deterrent
20:41for going out and offending again.
20:43Let's have a walk and see if we can get some contact info
20:46for the victim.
20:47So, that's the number she rang off.
20:49OK, Fab.
20:50I'll just ring her.
20:51Give her a bell.
20:54I'll let you know.
20:55See you in a minute.
21:04Hello, it's Beth calling from Preston Police.
21:07I just wanted to ring you and let you know
21:09we've got an update about the case.
21:13I am really sorry.
21:14It isn't brilliant news.
21:16So, he isn't going to be serving any custodial time right now.
21:21But he has got a 12-month suspended sentence.
21:24So, if he does break that, per se, then he'll have to serve time.
21:31I know it's not exactly what we wanted,
21:34but it is hopefully a step in the right direction.
21:39Sometimes, especially when you're not happy with it,
21:42you feel a little bit like it should have been better for them,
21:47especially if you put yourselves in their shoes
21:49and you realise that you really did want a custodial sentence for them.
21:55But I think she was happy that she got the update
21:58and that we could do something about it, at least.
22:03Six weeks later, police are called to deal with shoplifter Joe again,
22:07this time caught stealing from a pet shop.
22:11I recognised his face today.
22:12I saw him just put a load of stuff into his bag.
22:14I approached him and he started getting all lairing me down there,
22:17saying, it's my stuff, my stuff.
22:19Then I got to the front doors and tried to get the bag off him.
22:21And then that's when your colleague stepped in and said,
22:23right, I'm going to wrestle them in.
22:25She's not under arrest, mate.
22:27I'm awesome.
22:28Hello. You all right?
22:29Yeah.
22:30Oh, hello. I think I've met you before.
22:32I think so.
22:33You have been arrested multiple times for shoplifting already, haven't you?
22:37Am I right in saying that?
22:38No, I'm not.
22:39You've not got anything else that you shouldn't have, have you?
22:42No, I'm not.
22:42You've got no drugs on you or anything like that?
22:44It's not been like that at all.
22:45Right.
22:46Right, that's fine.
22:47We'll put all your stuff together
22:48and then obviously we'll be making our way to custody.
22:52I am going to place you in custody
22:54because you've already had to be restrained once.
22:58Just cross your arm, sonny.
23:00Yeah.
23:00That's the comfortable position.
23:03That's it?
23:03Yeah.
23:04I'll just lock them so they don't get tired.
23:06Right, right.
23:08I'm looking forward to a lie down, I'm lacking.
23:10Will you just get a CCTV instead of it?
23:12I'll come back for you.
23:13Nice one.
23:15You just jumped in there.
23:17Nice one.
23:28Joe was convicted of another two shop thefts
23:31and an attempted theft.
23:33Having breached his suspended sentence,
23:35he was sent to prison for 50 weeks.
24:01Preston CID are leading the investigation
24:03into Andre Mikulski,
24:05the bargain store thief accused of attempted murder.
24:12DC Alex examines the movements of the suspect
24:15the day before the security guard was stabbed.
24:19We believe that the same person potentially
24:21has been committing a number of thefts,
24:24shopliftings and also more violent shopliftings and robberies.
24:29So, currently, I'm just watching some CCTV.
24:34It appears that the suspect has gone to a garage
24:38and nearly hours in the morning, he goes to pay.
24:47Then, as soon as the shopkeeper opens the doors,
24:49he tries to try and steal the money from the till.
24:56The second incident, this has occurred a few hours later,
25:00you see the suspect wearing the same clothing as before goes to the till.
25:04He's obviously playing around with something that's inside his pocket.
25:08And he, at this point, he's attempted to pay with a scratch card
25:11that the shopkeeper has just put on there,
25:13but there's not actually any money on it.
25:16You see, again, he's playing around with this face mask,
25:20pulling it now over his face.
25:24Then, when the shopkeeper rejects it, he pulls a knife out of his pocket.
25:33Obviously, it's quite a shocking thing to do,
25:35just to get four beers.
25:41You see, he's jumping around with this knife,
25:43but the shopkeeper refuses to give in, and so he runs off.
25:49This next incident happens the day after.
25:53He just walks into Heron Foods, picks up some items,
25:57and then just walks straight out with them.
26:01Clearly, no attempt to pay at all.
26:05There's also CCTV from just before the stabbing.
26:10So, about an hour and 15 minutes later,
26:12a male enters being embargained.
26:15It appears, certainly from the footage,
26:18that it's the exact same male,
26:19just goes around being embargained,
26:22picks up a number of items and places them in his basket.
26:26Really minor items, such as deodorant, cream eggs,
26:31that sort of thing, nothing worth more than 20, 30 quid.
26:35He does actually start to queue to pay for those items.
26:39So, after queuing for about two or three minutes,
26:42he then decides to not go through the till
26:45and just walks straight out,
26:48hopping some sort of barrier,
26:50and goes out with the basket.
26:54Jeff, the security guard, comes out of his office
26:57and follows the suspect out of the shop.
27:02So, you can see the suspect leaving the shop.
27:09Jeff, the security guard, runs over.
27:16And then, an incident occurs behind this bush
27:19with Jeff falling down.
27:22You can see Jeff on the floor,
27:26and you can see the suspect.
27:30It looks like he's dropped a number of items,
27:32and then he's tempted to pick them up
27:35whilst Jeff is kind of writhing around him in pain.
27:52Vital evidence has been found in the suspect's backpack,
27:56a kitchen knife with a 19-centimetre blade.
28:00It didn't appear to have blood on it.
28:03It had potentially been cleaned
28:07because there was kind of scorch marks on it,
28:10as if someone had burnt it with a lighter.
28:13However, the victim's blood and DNA has been found on it.
28:19Detective Alex attempts to retrace
28:21Mikulski's movements across the city.
28:24We're conducting CCTV trolls
28:27to try and trace the suspect on CCTV
28:30from the moment that he left the incident location
28:34to where he was arrested
28:36to ensure that it is the same person
28:38and we can prove evidentially it's the same person.
28:43I've gone to the location where he was arrested
28:47and identified a spot where there was CCTV covering that arrest.
28:52And then from there, it's about going to other locations with CCTV
28:57and trying to trace back where the suspect has come from.
29:04So he runs through the suspect after he's done the stabbing,
29:11runs through the bus station car park,
29:14emerging at this point before crossing the road
29:17and then crossing this car park.
29:19At that point, we lose him on CCTV for about half an hour.
29:27Well, he's next seen walking up that street.
29:32He doesn't have his jacket anymore.
29:35He's just wearing his blue jacket.
29:38He's then seen, from a number of cameras,
29:40seen crossing into this street
29:46before walking across the flag market here.
29:53He walks down here and then crosses through the new development.
30:09This is the street on which the defendant was spotted
30:14by the Firearms Officer, so you just have to be passing by.
30:19Having tracked Mikulski's movements to place him at the scene,
30:22the next step is to question him.
30:35In Burnley, officers are working on another shoplifting case.
30:40Stacey, I've uploaded the CCTV for shoplifting this morning.
30:44Oh, great. Shall we have a look?
30:46Let's type in the log number.
30:55A well-known shop thief has stolen two bottles of whiskey.
31:00I've collected the statement from the security guard
31:03who can ID in this incident.
31:07We're wearing the same clothing and it's dealt with him for many years.
31:11Oh, yeah, I can see that.
31:12Yeah, and the value of the shot lift is 44 pounds.
31:19The team head to a hostel that the suspect is known to visit.
31:34It's busy this morning.
31:37What have you been doing this morning?
31:38Nothing with the bell time.
31:40I've been shown the CCTV still and it just looks like that's all.
31:43Where?
31:44So, can I just detain you for now, just for a purpose of a search?
31:47OK, under section one of PACE to look for stolen property.
31:51OK, I believe that you've been shoplifting this morning.
31:53OK, so just stand up for me.
31:56I am PC.
31:58Oh!
32:024428 control.
32:06Oh, he's currently on P&M at Packard Park.
32:10Are there any patrols to help me and my colleagues just chasing mum for?
32:17What are you on about?
32:19Move!
32:21I can't leave you, can I?
32:25Oh, we've still got items.
32:27Yeah, I'm currently following him.
32:29He's getting a bit aggressive.
32:30We're just going through some woodlands, though.
32:32I don't know where it leads.
32:38Mail's now picking up rocks and attempting to throw them at me.
32:41Oh, where are you?
32:43Currently at the back of the sales park.
32:537240, I've lost the mail somewhere in the wood.
33:05Up here, just jumped over the fence.
33:10Where's that come out?
33:17Railway.
33:194441 there.
33:22You're going over to the railway track.
33:28Unfortunately, we can't follow on to train tracks due to them being live tracks, so then
33:31we had to make British Transport Police aware to stop any trains in motion.
33:35Well, he's on the train track.
33:36She didn't run that way.
33:37Yeah, he's gone back down that way.
33:39Is that standing up?
33:40Is anyone so pretty than she?
33:43Because there's a bridge that runs across there.
33:45Do you think she might drop up to the other side?
33:50You've been identified by CCTV.
33:54You just look at this male's face.
33:56Do you think that could be you?
33:58Maybe my brother.
33:59Maybe a cousin.
34:23In Burnley, police are hunting for a suspected shop thief.
34:27Look here.
34:28He's just jumped over the fence.
34:29Who's made off into woodland and is running across train tracks.
34:35He's going back down that way.
34:38The only way the train track comes out is onto the end of Clifton Street, so then firearms
34:43officers set up there, ready for him to come out of the exit.
34:48Proper brambled yourself, haven't you?
34:50Look at the state of that.
34:54I'm going to have a suspicion of theft.
34:56That's when being told Paul, all right?
34:57Yeah, yeah.
35:07He's one of our repeat shoplifters, so he's committed a theft this morning in the town centre,
35:13so he's just been deterred after making off.
35:20Yeah, they're just drinking eggs and filming them.
35:23Drinking into the police car.
35:26The suspect is well known to local residents.
35:29What?
35:30Oh, my God.
35:33Don't be forced to fucking muck it, man.
35:36I will do what I get done for yourself because I'm not the fucking ass.
35:43Oh, no fucking smacking the head in.
35:47Go on, now.
35:51Now, police assault.
35:58All right, stop showing off in front of all of them.
36:08The suspect is taken in for questioning.
36:16He was a little bit aggressive when he was arrested.
36:19He kicked out, one of the officers who placed him in the van.
36:22There'll just be a few of us here. We'll just watch him.
36:24He is handcuffed and everything.
36:34What time was he arrested?
36:35£10.55.
36:38So I'll set the puffs off.
36:39Are we here and we are? Yes.
36:41All right.
36:51Are you concerned about your alcohol or drug use?
36:54I'm concerned about my drug use here.
36:57It depends on your crack.
36:58Yeah, but it's mind all the matter, isn't it?
37:04I've got a few mugs and bruises there.
37:06I know, but I am.
37:08He's been running through brambles and stuff like that.
37:10There you go.
37:12Not there for fuck.
37:13Fuck off.
37:13Get off, mate.
37:14Calm down.
37:15Move away.
37:15Calm down.
37:16Stop swearing.
37:17Calm down.
37:18Don't smack your head.
37:18Move back.
37:19Don't start threatening to go back and cut.
37:21Put me in cut.
37:22Calm down.
37:22Go away from me then, don't.
37:24No, I'm just staying right here.
37:25Give him a fucking way before I'm off your head off.
37:28Are we back in the room?
37:30Yeah.
37:31Are we all right?
37:36Right, are you having a quick search now, please?
37:38Right, we'll just let's have to search you.
37:40Just step back.
37:42Do you have any piercings or jewelry?
37:44No, I've got my plate in my arm.
37:46I don't know.
37:49I don't know.
37:50I might be flat or I have to.
37:53Turn the place that way.
37:56Thank you, Charlie.
37:58Two.
37:58C2.
37:59Right behind us.
38:04Get your shoes up outside yourself, please, man.
38:08Can I go one bit, please?
38:10Yeah, we'll stop going.
38:11Can I go one bit too, man?
38:24Sergeant Paul Meads provides an update on the case.
38:27He did get convicted.
38:29He got convicted of assault police and assaults on an emergency worker, which is one of our
38:35PCSOs, and also for the theft of the two bottles of Jack Daniels.
38:40And for the shoplifting and the two police assaults, he's got 24 weeks custodial sentence.
38:46So for us, that's great.
39:15With CCTV and DNA evidence.
39:18gathered, detectives impressed and questioned Andrey Mikulski about the two-day crime spree
39:24that culminated in the stabbing of security guard.
39:30You've been identified by CCTV.
39:33If you just look at this male's face, do you think that could be you?
39:36If you look at this man's face, you think it could be you?
39:40No point. I've suggested he's got a similar looking face to you. Would you agree with that?
39:45No point. Maybe my, kurwa, brother, maybe cousin, maybe someone looks like, oh, someone has the same look like a
39:52different person.
39:53I have one look.
39:56That people look similar to each other.
40:00No point.
40:01So do you have any problem to take your impression?
40:04No. No point.
40:06So just imagine now, you've got the rucksack on your back, you've got the basket in your hand with all
40:11the B&M stuff in.
40:12No point.
40:13No point.
40:14No point.
40:14Where were you headed to?
40:15In what direction?
40:16No point.
40:17Tell me the first time that you were challenged by the security guard.
40:22No point.
40:22Tell me exactly what happened.
40:24No point.
40:26No point.
40:27So at what point did you get the knife out?
40:29At like what stage did you get the knife?
40:31No point.
40:32What caused you to stab him?
40:34What has happened to you?
40:35No point.
40:37Did you stab him?
40:38Did you see this security guard fall to the ground?
40:46Did you notice any blood?
40:50He needed two blood transfusions because of so much blood that he lost.
40:56He took virtually the rest of the day to stabilize him.
41:02And he underwent a three hour operation because of being stabbed.
41:06Since then he's had another operation because of further complications.
41:09And he currently remains in a critical care unit of all Preston Hospital.
41:14Who better hope that this guy pulls through?
41:17Because if he doesn't, then you would be arrested on suspicion of murder.
41:24The security guard, Jeff, survives.
41:28The suspect, Andre Mikulski, is charged with possession of a knife, robbery and theft.
41:39So today is the first day of a four day trial.
41:44We initially presented the case of the CPS as an attempted murder,
41:49which they knocked back.
41:51The defendant has pled guilty to a Section 20 assault.
41:57Essentially a Section 20 is causing someone grievous bodily harm,
42:01but you've not intended to do that.
42:06I'm not sure how you can claim to stab someone,
42:10but not admit that you were trying to cause a serious injury.
42:18Detectives want to prove the suspect intended to cause harm
42:21and are pursuing a more serious charge.
42:24We're seeking conviction on a Section 18 assault,
42:28so there's a number of years difference
42:30that potentially he could be facing as a result of that.
42:36His defence haven't requested a mental health assessment,
42:40so that would suggest that they don't think he lacked capacity
42:43at the time of the offence.
42:47After a four day trial, the jury found Andre Mikulski guilty
42:52of the more serious offence.
42:54Section 18, wounding with intent.
42:58He was also convicted of robbery, attempted robbery,
43:02having a knife in public and shop thefts.
43:07He was jailed for 22 years and six months.
43:13It's the right result for the public,
43:16because he's clearly a dangerous individual
43:18who is prepared to use violence to obtain really minor things.
43:24It's also the right result for the victim
43:26who's gone through six months of hell
43:30and he's still suffering and will probably suffer
43:33for the rest of his life with mobility issues,
43:36mental health issues, quick action
43:38and by the initial attending officers,
43:41almost certainly saved the victim's life.
43:44How are you doing?
43:46I'm not so bad.
43:46Good, all right.
43:47Yeah.
43:48Thanks very much.
43:49Hi.
43:50Bye, you're good.
43:51Yeah, thanks for the time.
43:53Oh, mate, you OK?
43:54Yeah.
43:55I haven't ever seen you.
43:59Last time I saw you, it was grabbing something in there.
44:02You put the tourniquet around.
44:03OK.
44:04It's just, er, there isn't enough thanks.
44:07I feel an honour.
44:10Big enough.
44:13For anything you did for me.
44:16You saved my life.
44:17Me and my family would like to thank you.
44:21That you've been there that day,
44:23I wouldn't have done it, yeah.
44:24Thank you very much.
44:26And you're doing an amazing job.