PCSO

The investigation was transferred to South Yorkshire Police on 28 November, but the force closed it down due to a false sighting by a PCSO.

The Prestwich footage, which emerged on Monday night featuring a PCSO, was shared on social media, prompting widespread criticism.

He said to the PCSO: "You need to get round to the Co-op. There's just been a fight round there, because people are trying to stop the shoplifter that you're doing nothing about."

The NHS estimates about 10% of women in the UK have PCSO.

The exchanges between him and officers were captured on one of the PCSO's body-worn cameras, footage from which was played to the jury.