A ONE-man crime spree - who wreaked havoc among families and shops in Oldham over the space of a fortnight last year - has been jailed for six years.

Cameron Bland repeatedly threatened to burn down people’s homes and smashed living room windows with rocks when crossed, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

The notorious shoplifter also brazenly walked out of supermarkets with vacuum cleaners and TVs, the court was told. And Bland, 28, later progressed to carrying out a string of knifepoint robberies of terrified shop staff.

He blamed his life of crime on being severely picked up on as a youngster for being the “little ginger kid with glasses”, the court heard.

Bland was already the subject of a criminal behaviour order, effectively banning from Oldham town centre, when he struck in late October and early November.

Prosecutor Alaric Bassano said his “one-man crime spree”, in which he subjected his victims to physical and psychological damage” came to a head with two knife robberies at stores locally, which he carried out on each occasion with his pal, David Stewart.

CCTV captured the pair bursting into the Co-op at Grotton on October 31, with Stewart seen waving around a meat cleaver as staff and customers back away.

Bland is seen to vault the counter, where he grabbed £350 in cash and cigarettes before the duo fled, the court heard.

Mr Bassano said that the same day the pair targeted Scotts Fashion in Oldham, in a raid which saw Bland help himself to clothing while threatening a the shop manager with a knife.

And when a female supervisor went to challenge Bland, his accomplice Stewart, who had been stood by the door, told her: “You don’t want to risk your life - it’s not worth it”.

Bland had earlier carried out a third robbery, also on October 31, which saw him threatened to stab a security guard at a Tesco store while again armed with a knife.

Mr Bassano said Bland had already robbed a McDonald’s branch in Oldham by this point and also tried to hold up a taxi driver at knifepoint in the early hours.

But the court heard how he had begun his reign of terror by brutalising three families whom he knew. Bland stole a £450 bike from one young man and when relatives complained, said Mr Bassano, he threatened to burn down their house and later hurled a rock through their window.

Another time, he punched a householder in front of her grandson, smashed her windows and made similar arson threats, the court heard. A third family was showeredd with broken glass, with children left screaming in terror, after Bland targeted their home.

Bland, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted robbery, assault and threatening behaviour charges. He also faces an extended two-year licence period.

Stewart, of The Green, Fitton Hill, admitted to robbery and knife offences. Stewart was jailed for four-and-a-half years, also with two years extended licence.

Benjamin Knight, for Bland, said his client had suffered serious physical abuse while being bullied as a child, which had left him with “few social skills”.

The defendant, who has 111 offences on his criminal record, turned to crack cocaine from the age of 14, and had been in and out of custody, he added.

Keith Jones, for Stewart, said his client now wanted to remain drug-free so he could build bridges with his son upon his eventual release.