Scaffolder threatened to bite the face off Tesco staff

Peter Ellwood, 32, of Seven Acres, Parton, pleaded guilty to assaulting the Whitehaven store's manager, Philip O'Connell, and security guard Richard Myres on September 9.

Ellwood appeared before magistrates in Workington on Friday, where he was given a four-month curfew and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said Ellwood, who had been drinking, told the victims he was going to hurt them as well as pushing both of them.

She said: "The defendant has gone to the store to buy alcohol at about 7pm but, because he appeared to be intoxicated and slurring his words, the manager has refused to serve him."

The court then heard Ellwood walked off, bought some pasta from the store and sat outside for 10 minutes.

Ms Fee said the defendant then walked back i to the store and told the security guard: "You're not going to stop me."

She said Mr Myres followed Ellwood as he headed to the spirits aisle, where the defendant "became aggressive" and pushed the security guard.

The court heard Mr Myres subsequently called Mr O'Connell over to assist, and he was also pushed after he asked the defendant to leave and tried to restrain him.

Ms Fee said the defendant told the victims at this point that he was going to "bite their face off".

Mike Pope, defending, said his client, a scaffolder by trade, was "between jobs".

He said Ellwood had "too much time on his hands when he is not working".

The court heard Ellwood had been out drinking with friends on the day of the offence.

Magistrates warned him that the crime "crossed the custodial threshold".

However, they felt a community order would "better protect the public" - and hopefully keep Ellwood out of trouble in the future.