A man attacked a newsagent with a chopstick after allegedly helping himself to a cup of coffee without paying.
Mohamed Boshaala, 23, was given a lift home by police following a row over a brew at the shop on Waterloo Road in Cheetham Hill last summer.
He returned half-an-hour later with his dad and brother and waited outside.
Manchester Crown Court heard that when the newsagent returned to the shop, following a worried call from his wife, Boshaala adopted a ‘fighting stance’ and hit him in the face with a chopstick.
The blow knocked the man to the floor and left him with a cut lip, which needed stitches.
Boshaala has now been handed six-month sentence, suspended for two years, having previously admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Prosecutor Jon Close earlier told the court Boshaala went into the shop on July 3.
It was alleged he took a cup of coffee he didn’t pay for. The police were called and took Boshaala home.
“Thirty minutes later he returned to the shop accompanied by his father and brother,” Mr Close said.
“His father and brother entered the shop and the victim’s wife called the victim and asked him to return.
“CCTV footage showed the defendant had a bandage on his hand and inside that was a chopstick.
“The victim is seen arriving at the store before the defendant took a fighting stance and struck him to the face with his hand - and the chopstick.”
The pair were separated by the victim’s wife and the defendant’s family members before police and paramedics arrived.
The broken chopstick was recovered from the scene.
In a statement Boshaala's victim said he was ‘devastated’ at having to tell his daughters how he was hurt - and that he was scared on his return to work.
Boshaala has 11 previous convictions for 16 offences including robbery; assault of an emergency worker; and criminal damage.
Defence lawyer David Bentley said his client had served a three-month stint in prison following the incident, which had been a ‘turning point’ in his life.
“His father and brother returned to mediate between parties,” he said.
“His antecedence reflects that petulant behaviour - destroying coffee tables and wing mirrors on cars. A petulant response for not getting his own way.
“He was involved heavily in smoking cannabis, he has now managed to remove himself from that association.”
Judge, Recorder Anthony O’Donohoe told Boshaala: “This was a nasty incident.
“Having a chopstick in your hand could have caused a very grave injury.
“Had it connected with the victim’s eye, it could have caused a catastrophic injury.
“I hope you stay out of trouble, the onus is on you, the court is giving you a chance.”
Boshaala, of Brideoak Street, was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements.
