A man who threw stolen bottles of vodka and tequila at officers in Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed. 

Callum Sweeney, 27, of no fixed address, was sentenced to one-year in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (28 October) after he admitted robbery and racially aggravated harassment/alarm/distress by words. 

It comes after Sweeney stole bottles of brandy, vodka and tequila from Esso petrol station on Anchor Road, where he had been banned, in August this year. 

Staffordshire Police sent a nearby armed response vehicle to look for Sweeney. He was seen on Moss Green Road but ran off when he saw officers, who then chased him on foot. 

Sweeney threw two of the stolen bottles in the direction of the officers as he ran before he was stopped and arrested on Talley Close. 

The undamaged bottle of brandy was seized and returned to the store. 

When he was taken to hospital, Sweeney racially abused someone. 

PC Michael Yeomans said: "Sweeney ignored the instructions of staff in the store and could have caused serious harm in his attempts to avoid being caught by police. 

"I'm pleased that we've been able to secure this outcome and I hope it demonstrates that we are working hard to act against those responsible for burglary, theft and robbery across Staffordshire."