_ Drunken yob who went on the run for 16 years to dodge justice after terrorising a shopkeeper into handing over free alcohol is finally jailed

A drunken yob who went on the run for 16 years to avoid justice after terrorising a shopkeeper has finally been jailed.

Jakub Szweczak, 45, intimidated the shop worker into handing over free alcohol, before acting aggressively in front of a young family outside.

He was arrested at the scene in Norwich, Norfolk, in December 2007 after a friend he was with brandished a knife at shop staff and later admitted affray.

But he fled before he could be sentenced the following year, claiming his partner was pregnant and he 'didn't want to be in prison' when she gave birth.

He was found and arrested again this year, leading to an appearance at Norwich Crown Court earlier this month when he was jailed for 18 months.

Sergeant Amanda Baker, who led the original investigation, said: 'This sentence is the perfect reminder that, no matter how much time has passed, we will not stop looking to prosecute those who have committed crimes in our county.'

The defendant, who is Polish, caused a 'drunken nuisance' at the City Convenience Store on Christmas Day 2007.

He was 'drunk and unsteady on his feet' when he and a friend tried to purchase alcohol from the store but were refused.

Szweczak then asked for 'free alcohol', which was also refused, but was then allowed to buy vodka before he swore at staff.

The pair next went outside and banged on a passing BMW car, with their 'aggressive' behaviour leading a neighbouring café owner to 'lock the door and turn off the lights'.

Szweczak and his friend then acted aggressively in front of a Mercedes car in which sat a couple and their two young children.

Norwich Crown Court heard the men repeatedly returned to the City Convenience Store, at one point being given a bottle of booze which they broke against the shop window, before demanding more 'free alcohol'.

They were chased out of the store by a brave shop worker clutching a piece of wood, only to return a final time with Szweczak's co-defendant wielding a rusty knife, leading to police being called.

Michael Clare, representing Szweczak, said it was a nasty offence which was the result of 'drunkenness, rather than pre-planning'.

While the co-defendant held the knife, he accepted his client was 'party to that'.

Regarding the Bail Act offence, Mr Clare added it was not 'sophisticated' absconding and that Szweczak had moved to the Capital to be with his girlfriend when she went into labour.

Sentencing him on April 22, Judge Katherine Moore said: 'The unhappy events of Christmas Day 2007 occurred because you and your co-defendant had both had too much to drink.'

Going on to describe how they caused a 'drunken nuisance' during their 'number of trips' to the shop, she added he had subsequently 'quite deliberately absented yourself' and in so doing 'evaded justice for a substantial period of time'.

The fact he 'vanished' and 'no one knew where you were' had 'added to the disquiet of the shopkeepers in Magdalen Street'.

Norfolk Police were approached for a comment.

(Fluierul)