A terrified shopkeeper leapt to safety over his counter as he was confronted by a hammer-wielding thug.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how Andrew Diamond raised his fists in rage as he wreaked havoc in the Premier convenience store in Mossbay Road, Workington.

At one point a customer in the shop threw coffee at 34-year-old Diamond who produced the hammer from his jacket.

The incident happened at around 6.30am on October 31 when, in front of shocked customers and staff, Diamond began acting aggressively.

CCTV captured the incident and showed Diamond calmly leaving the premises. He was found and arrested by police later that morning.

He was charged with affray and having an offensive weapon. But at Carlisle Crown Court a jury heard Diamond had been assessed by experts and found to be unfit both to enter a plea and to stand trial.

In his absence, jurors were asked to hear evidence and submissions in the case before deciding whether or not he had committed the alleged offences.

After deliberating for a short time, they returned to court and announced their unanimous conclusion that he was responsible for both.

CCTV footage showing Diamond’s criminal conduct was played to the jury during the hearing.

Andrew Ford, prosecuting, said Diamond entered the shop and stood staring at the counter for several minutes.

Mr Ford added: “The action commences. It is significant.

“The defendant ran to the counter. He was aggressive; he was hostile; he was shouting and in a rage and at one point he raised his fists.

“Coffee was thrown at him by somebody. The shopkeeper vaulted the counter to flee and the defendant produced a hammer.”

Mr Ford said the shop was left in disarray. A mobile display was knocked over.

“The scene quelled. Everybody else left, for good reason, it would seem,” the prosecutor told jurors. “The defendant lowered the hammer and walked out calmly with it.”

Diamond was arrested in Murray Road just before 10am. A hammer was sticking out of his pocket.

A police officer told the court Diamond seemed “quite spaced out”. He was compliant as he was arrested and taken into custody.

“He just stared right through me,” said the officer.

No evidence was called on behalf of Diamond, previously of St Mary’s Court, Workington. He was represented in court by lawyer David Thompson.

After hearing the jury’s decision, Judge Tony Lancaster imposed an indefinite hospital order.