An armed robber wearing full Joker face paint threatened supermarket staff with a knife while stealing from a Morrisons in Jarrow, Tyneside on July 8.
Peter Braithwaite, 31, entered the store dressed in black, his face painted to resemble the comic-book villain, and pushed a trolley loaded with unpaid items toward the exit.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that female employees tried to stop him, prompting Braithwaite to wink and tell them to "speak to your manager" before a male security guard intervened, prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said.
CCTV captured Braithwaite with the Joker makeup, all-black clothing and a black backpack, drawing a six-inch folding knife when workers seized the trolley.
He then pointed the knife at the staff, shouting, "Do you want a bit? Do you want to get stabbed? Do you want to die?" causing them to retreat, Wardlaw reported.
Footage later showed the thief fleeing with the cart, wheeling it to his nearby home. A neighbour questioned his behaviour, but Braithwaite offered only a wide-eyed stare.
Police arrived at the address, recovered the weapon and the stolen groceries, and Braithwaite pleaded guilty to robbery. Recorder Jamie Hill KC sentenced him to 40 months in prison.
The court was told the incident left workers with severe panic and anxiety, with one employee describing "complete dread" when dealing with shoplifters.
Defence lawyer Robin Turton said his client suffers from mental-health issues, is deeply remorseful and now fully understands the seriousness of his actions.
