Man faces huge prison sentence after trying to leave Mercadona with a bottle of juice

If you have ever watched the price of a weekly shop creep up and wondered whether it could get any more ridiculous, a story from a supermarket in Albacete may leave you doing a double take. A man is facing a potential prison sentence of more than two years after allegedly trying to walk out of a Mercadona with something that would barely fill a shopping bag. The item in question? A two-litre bottle of juice.

The alleged supermarket theft

According to the prosecution, the incident took place at around 7:30pm when the man attempted to leave the Albacete supermarket without paying for the bottle. A security guard reportedly stopped him and told him that he needed to pay for the juice. 

What happened next turned a seemingly minor shoplifting incident into a criminal case involving an act of violence. The prosecution claims that the man pushed and struggled with the security guard as he attempted to get away. A second member of the security team then became involved, and together they managed to restrain the man until Policía Nacional officers arrived.

The confrontation leaves security guard injured

The first security guard was left with injuries to his wrist and left side during the struggle. He required medical treatment and was reportedly unable to fully recover for eight days. The prosecution is now asking the court to impose a two-year and three-month prison sentence for attempted robbery with violence.

That is not the only penalty being requested. Prosecutors are also seeking a two-month fine, calculated at €12 per day, in connection with the minor injury offence. The security guard is also seeking compensation of €450 for the injuries suffered during the confrontation.

When shoplifting becomes a much more serious offence

The potential sentence can seem startling when the object involved was simply a bottle of juice. The crucial issue for prosecutors, however, is not simply the value of the product. Their case concerns what happened when the security guard attempted to prevent the man from leaving without paying.

Spanish criminal law distinguishes between straightforward theft and offences involving violence or intimidation. Where violence is alleged during an attempt to take property, the circumstances can result in much more serious charges than those attached to an ordinary shoplifting incident. That distinction is now central to the Albacete case.

The court will decide what happened

The court will have to consider the evidence and hear the parties before deciding what happened and whether the accused is criminally responsible. The prosecution’s request for a prison sentence is therefore an allegation and proposed punishment, not a final sentence. The case is due to be heard at Penal Court No. 2 in Albacete on September 29, when the court will consider the allegations and evidence presented.

The man is not reported to have any previous criminal convictions, meaning the case does not involve someone with a recorded history of offences. For anyone heading into a Spanish supermarket expecting an ordinary shopping trip, the case shows how an  attempt to leave without paying can become considerably more serious when a confrontation follows. And in this case, the disputed shopping item was not an expensive electronic device, a trolley full of groceries or a high-value product. It was a two-litre bottle of juice.