Last updated at 08:14, Friday, 02 March 2012

A drunk man who launched a torrent of verbal abuse at Carlisle supermarket staff said he had turned to alcohol following the death of his son.

Brian Hill, 60, of Borrowdale Gardens, Carlisle, was first arrested on February 9 following an incident at Tesco in Victoria Viaduct.

He was queuing to pay when he started shouting at the checkout assistant to hurry up. A security guard was called over and asked him to calm down, but Hill grew more aggressive. As the items were being scanned he again uttered abuse at the assistant, who then refused to serve him.

The security guard returned and told him to leave, saying he was banned from the store. But Hill again responded with verbal abuse and swearing.

He then went to the nearby B&M store and started swearing at fellow shoppers.

He was arrested and found to be in possession of cannabis. While on bail he returned to Tesco a few days later and committed a second public order offence.

This time he was at the cash machine outside the store. A different security guard saw him shouting and swearing, then banging his head against the top of the ATM machine.

When he approached Hill, the security guard was again met with abuse and swearing. He was arrested a second time.

At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, Hill pleaded guilty to two counts of causing harassment, alarm or distress and one of possessing drugs.

He said he couldn’t really remember the incidents as he had been drunk, but added that he was seeking help to deal with his alcohol problems.

“I can’t remember it but if that’s what I’ve said then that’s what I’ve said. Alcohol is the problem. It has been for about 14 months, since my son died,” he told the court.

Hill was fined £60 for each of the three offences, plus told to pay a further £100 in costs and victim surcharge.

First published at 08:11, Friday, 02 March 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk