Violent thief jailed after attacking shop manager and biting police officers

RUSSELL EMMERSON DIXON ALSO PUNCHED A SHOP MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CONFRONTED ABOUT HIS SHOPLIFTING 09:38, 21 May 2025 A serial shoplifter in Spennymoor has been jailed after biting two

two police officers when they tried to arrest him. Russell Emmerson Dixon stole hundreds of pounds of coffee and laundry tablets from several stores in the County Durham town. During one of

the incidents, the 32-year-old punched a shop manager in the head several times, and he also smashed the window of a home in the area. When two Durham Constabulary officers were trying to

apprehend Dixon, he bit both of them, breaking the skin and leaving them needing tetanus jabs. Last Thursday, May 15, Dixon, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual

bodily harm, assault by beating of an emergency worker, assault by beating, four counts of theft and attempted theft. Article continues below He was subsequently jailed for a total of two

years and eight months, and has also been ordered to pay £228. In the County Durham area, the number of recorded shoplifting cases has been reduced by 16% in the last year while the number

of cases successfully solved has risen from 32.6% to 57.8% Neighbourhood Inspector Pete Newman said: "Our team relentlessly pursues shoplifters like Dixon and we will continue to put

him back before the courts every time. Article continues below "We hope these sentences gives our communities some respite from these criminals and our message is clear: we will never

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