A SHOPLIFTER who pulled a knife on a security guard at an Oxford retail park has been convicted.

Trevor Francis, of no fixed abode, shook his head in disbelief yesterday as jurors at Oxford Crown Court handed down a unanimous guilty verdict to one count of threatening another with a bladed article.

During the brief trial prosecutors had said that the 40-year old was first spotted on CCTV inside Boots at Oxford Retail Park on the afternoon of September 2.

Francis, together with his partner, were seen to stash a number of item into a bag before the woman left out into the car park.

Security guard Javaid Hussain saw what was going on from the CCTV control room and immediately chased after the woman with Francis following behind him.

It was while outside in the car park that Francis threatened he would stab the security guard before pulling out a knife and aiming it at him.

Francis told his victim 'get back otherwise I will smash your face and I will stab you' before later fleeing the scene towards Barns Road.

The blade he had used to threaten Mr Hussain was shown to the court and appeared to have a curved blade which was 'rainbow coloured'.

Before running off Francis dropped the knife which Mr Hussain collected and handed to police.

Francis had claimed there was never a knife nor any threats made but jurors took less than two hours to roundly convict him yesterday.

His sentencing was adjourned to a later date, yet to be determined, and he was remanded in custody in the meantime.