A man jailed for assault appeared to threaten a magistrate when she announced his sentence.
Kirklees magistrates today sentenced James Price to six months in prison after hearing how he swigged gin before attacking a supermarket manager.
Before being taken away to start his sentence he warned chairman of the bench Sue Lamb: “I’m coming back at you like a f*****g fireball.”
The drama at the Huddersfield court happened after magistrates heard about the incident at the Almondbury branch of the Co-op.
On February 8 Price, 58, entered the Northgate store despite being banned previously by manager John Orwin.
When he saw Price, also of Northgate, he asked him to leave.
He responded by telling Mr Orwin that he would do what he wanted and went behind the counter, selecting two bottles of spirits.
As the manager stood between Price and the store exit, he shouted and swore at him.
Price yelled: “You nasty little b*****d, you’re not going to like what I’m going to do to you.”
Mr Wills said that he then went behind the counter again and messed with the computer screens.
He added: “The defendant selected a bottle of gin and drank a quarter of the contents of the bottle.”
Price walked towards Mr Orwin, shoulder-barged him and told him: “Where I come from we drink where we want.”
Price left the store and was arrested and told police it was his opinion that he could do whatever he wanted.
He told them: “If people get in my way I’ll squash them. If I want something from the shop I’ll go in and get it.”
Price was charged with the offence and bailed on with a condition not to enter the store.
But he ignored this and three days later returned to the shop and stole newspapers.
Magistrates heard that Price had 12 offences on his record, including two for assault.
They sentenced him to a total of 24 weeks in prison and ordered him to pay £80 victim surcharge.
Price, who appeared at the court via a prison video link, shouted towards Mrs Lamb: “You’ve got it all wrong love and I’m coming back at you like a f*****g fireball.”
