Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Aimi Redfern

Aggressive Greggs customer calls worker 'fat b****' after she told him to stop swearing

A "super aggressive" Greggs customer told a female member of staff to "f*** off" and called her a "fat b****" in an appalling explosion of rage.

Jonathon Boulton, 36, lost his temper after the cashier told him not to swear.

He then kicked off at police who attended the branch of the bakery chain in Hanley, near Stoke, StokeonTrentLive reports.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the incident was sparked by a "misunderstanding" when the victim thought Boulton was swearing at her when he was on the phone to his girlfriend using wireless earbuds.

Prosecutor Simon Dykes said: "The complainant was behind the till and heard the defendant shout and swear. She said he was extremely aggressive.

"She said there was a free till if he didn't want to wait. He said, 'I will f****** stand here'. She said he did not need to swear. He said, 'I'm not f****** swearing'.

"He repeatedly told her to f*** off and called her a fat b****. He was very aggressive.

"She was in fear that he may be aggressive towards her physically."

The court heard security staff alerted police who attended the shop.

Mr Dykes added: "When officers arrived, the defendant said, 'Put your hands on me I will ******* break you'. The officers had to handcuff Mr Boulton. He was resistant after he was handcuffed.

"Officers noted he was in drink. They described his behaviour as unpredictable. Eventually, they had to us PAVA spray to get him under control."

Boulton, formerly of Oxford Road, Newcastle, but now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or or provoke unlawful violence.

He also admitted a further charge of resisting a police officer.

The court heard the offences on September 18 were initially dealt with by way of a conditional police caution, but Boulton breached this by committing another offence - being drunk and disorderly in a public place - the following day.

Andrew Turnock, mitigating, said: "The situation developed in Greggs due to a misunderstanding.

"He accepts he was swearing, but he wasn't swearing at the complainant - he was wearing bluetooth earplugs with his mobile phone in his pocket.

"He had a row with his girlfriend who was outside the shop. She rang him and he said, I'm in the ******* queue.

"The complainant then started to make comments about his swearing. He lost his temper and became abusive. It was a storm in a teacup."

Magistrates fined Boulton £233 and ordered him to pay £50 in compensation. He must also pay £169 in court costs and charges.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.