Man who threatened to punch shop security worker "all over" given suspended prison term

Shawn-Lee Sutton, 32, made his malicious intentions clear by first firing verbal abuse at him at Morrisons, in Whitburn Road, on Thursday, June 6, a court heard.

Suspected of shoplifting, Sutton, of Adelaide Court, Gateshead, then threatened to ‘punch the guard all over’ – and said he would hit him with a bottle.

He fled with £80 of alcohol but was soon arrested, prosecutor Paul Coulson told magistrates in South Tyneside.

Sutton then needed hospital treatment for injuries caused when he headbutted a police van on his way into custody.

And after being discharged and leaving with officers, he shouted vile racist abuse through the vehicle’s open window at a family walking past.

He turned to crime again at 11pm on Thursday, January 16, when he used a box or basket to smash a £500 door at a Heron Foods branch in Gateshead.

Mr Coulson said: “A male was acting suspiciously in Morrisons and had had a bottle of alcohol in his basket, but it was then not there.

“The guard walked towards Mr Sutton, who confronted him in an aggressive manner.

“He said to the effect he would punch him all over. He had a bottle in his hand and appeared to be threatening him with the bottle.

“He said words to the effect of, ‘I’ll hit you with this bottle’. The guard feared he would be assaulted.

“He told him to leave the store. It was noted that bottles of alcohol had been taken.”

Of the racial incident, Mr Coulson added: “Officers attended the shop and arrested Mr Sutton.

“He was acting in a very aggressive manner and was banging his head against the police van, and he was verbally abusive to the police.

“He was taken to hospital in regard to self-inflicted injuries from banging his head.

“At around 7pm, Mr Sutton was being taken back from the hospital. He made a number of comments towards the police.

“This included calling one a ‘faggot’, ‘gay’ and ‘a puff’. It was related to the officer’s perceived sexuality.

“He then yelled ‘Pakis’ at a family who were walking past, and it was heard by the family.”

Sutton pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage, shop theft, common assault and racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

He has 21 previous convictions from 33 offences, and was last in court in January last year for failing to comply with a community order.

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John Williams, defending, revealed Sutton was handed a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years, at Newcastle Crown Court in February for “more serious matters”.

Mr Williams said Sutton is due to enter drug rehab for six months, from late March.

He added: “The judge took that into account and what kept him out of immediate custody is the rehabilitation this month.”

Magistrates jailed Sutton for eight weeks, suspended for a year, with £500 compensation to Heron Foods and £85 to Morrisons.