Frenchman who ‘hurled' Camembert at Waitrose staff and used trolley as battering ram on the run

A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to turn up to court

Bernard Conche 'hurled Camembert' at Waitrose staff when they allegedly caught him shoplifting (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images)

A Frenchman who threw Camembert at supermarket staff is on the run from police after failing to turn up at court.

Bernard Conche "hurled Camembert" at Waitrose staff when they allegedly caught him shoplifting last November.

Th 67-year-old then used his shopping trolley as a "battering ram" to attack the store's manager and kicked a security guard and police officer during his getaway attempt.


 The Waitrose in Kings Road, Chelsea 
 (Google Street View)

He had already been banned from the Waitrose in Kings Road, Chelsea.

A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to turn up to Westminster Magistrate's Court.

He was supposedly spotted nearby wearing a fisherman's hat and Wellington boots before his trial began on 16 March, but he later disappeared.

Conche, who claimed he was attacked by staff, was convicted in absentia of two counts of assault by beating and one count of assaulting an officer in the course of duty.