A repeat thief who launched a threatening tirade at activist Stuart Hayward when he was caught stealing fruit from a garden has been jailed pending addiction treatment.

Lamel Steede, 41, of Fairhaven Lane, Sandys, claimed to be a gang member, threatening both Mr Hayward and his sister Sylvia Hayward-Harris, as well as punching her in the mouth after the two confronted him.

Magistrates’ Court heard that Steede’s offences began on August 7, when he aroused the suspicions of staff at the Paget Pharmacy. He was overheard saying into his phone “They don’t have it — what else do you want?” as he placed items in a plastic bag.

An employee asked to see inside the bag and tried to block him from leaving. Steede pulled out a screwdriver and pointed it at the woman, as well as shoving her away.

Appearing this morning before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, Steede pleaded guilty to theft, threatening behaviour and carrying a bladed article, along with assaulting Riticia Bellboda.

According to prosecutor Garrett Byrne, Steede was next found at about 10.20pm the following day, outside the Berkeley Road, Pembroke residence of the Hayward family.

Accompanied by an unknown man, Steede was using the light of his cell phone to pick avocado pears.

Steede fled into the neighbouring garden after Mr Hayward ordered him out of the yard.

The court heard that Mr Hayward then confronted him, asking to see the contents of his bag, which Steede refused to hand over.

Mr Hayward took the bag off him, and also took his photograph, at which point Steede threw a trash container at him, striking Mr Hayward’s right hand, and punched Ms Hayward-Harris in her mouth.

Steede claimed to be a member of the gang 42, allegedly threatening to return and shoot them, adding: “I’ll come back and poke your eyes out with a screwdriver. I’ll kill all of you — I’m going to come back and mess up this place.” He was later arrested.

Steede pleaded guilty to assaulting both residents, as well as stealing nine avocados.

Lastly, on September 28, a cashier at the Peoples’ Pharmacy in Hamilton noticed Steede behaving suspiciously. He was stopped by a security guard as he left the premises, and found to have placed toothpaste, Listerine and three packages of toothbrushes in his bag.

Apologising to the court, Steede said he’d been under the influence of heroin and alcohol, and that it had been taking him a long time to get admitted to a treatment programme.

“It will never happen again. At the time, I was drunk and high,” he told Mr Warner.

The Senior Magistrate said that there was a great likelihood Steede would continue to commit offences if released, adding that he would make sure he received treatment.

Mr Warner remanded him until November 12, and ordered a substance abuse and psychological report.