Somerset England May 14 2018 A man who was drunk when he attacked a supermarket security guard in Yeovil then threatened to “knock him out with one punch”.

David Christopher Eley had been being drinking when the victim found him outside the Tesco Extra store banging his head on the bus stop and shouting incoherently.

He then tried to go into the store but when he was refused entry he struck the guard on his arm and launched a tirade of abuse, even threatening to assault him in front of his children.

In a statement made by the victim which was read to the court he said that Eley’s behaviour had been very distressing.

“I found his behaviour very intimidating and when he threatened to assault me in front of my children it made me very upset,” he said.

The 28-year-old defendant, of Milton Close, Yeovil, pleaded guilty to assaulting Daniel Sweet by beating him on April when he appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates.

He also admitted that with intent to cause Mr Sweet harassment, alarm or distress he used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Emma Lenanton, prosecuting, said the police had been called following reports that a man was hitting his head on the bus stop outside the Tesco store in Yeovil.

“A security guard, Mr Sweet, went to investigate and saw Eley who was shouting loudly and incoherently and then returned to the shop,” she said.

“The defendant then tried to enter the store but Mr Sweet said he could not, so Eley struck him to the left arm and launched a tirade of abuse towards him.

“He said he would knock him out with one punch and then said he would find him outside work and didn’t care if he was with his family and kids.

“He also said he would kick the shit out of him and used the words f*** and c*** on numerous occasions.”

The court was told that the defendant was currently subject to a community order for a previous offence of criminal damage.

Defending solicitor Greg Peters said that Eley was disgusted with his own behaviour on that occasion which unfortunately came about through the use of alcohol.

“He knows Mr Sweet and would class him as a friend, which is even more poignant that he has used this totally unacceptable behaviour and he wants to apologise personally,” he said.

He said the defendant had gone through a number of personal difficulties recently which had led him to start drinking but said this matter had now been a wake-up call for him.

He said that Eley had now got himself a full-time job and was due to move in with a friend shortly and said things were now going well for him.

The magistrates fined him £180 and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to Mr Sweet along with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

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