A repeat offender has appeared in court after assaulting a manager at Nando’s.

Kristopher Hicks, 41, of Ferndale Road, pleaded guilty to common assault, theft from a shop and criminal damage at Swindon Magistrates Court on November 6.

The court heard how Hicks went into Aldi on August 31 and placed items into his bag and became “angry" and "aggressive” when challenged by security.

During his outburst, he damaged a barrier by pushing it over and the stolen items were recovered.

Mr Ballinger, prosecuting, explained that Hicks’ most serious offence occurred on October 19 when he drunkenly entered a Nando’s restaurant in Swindon at around 6:20pm and went to the bathroom, where he threw up over the sinks.

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He left the bathroom but refused to exit the restaurant and approached the manager at the tills, asking her to get rid of some rubbish, but she said he needed to take it with him.

Hicks then told her to “f*** off” and threw the rubbish at her over the counter, becoming “intimidating” while leaning into her face “less than an arms length from her.”

Another colleague tried to intervene and Hicks began shouting that the restaurant was dirty and infested with rats, attracting the attention and concern of customers.

The manager said “spittle” landed on her face when he was shouting and she asked him to stop, but he did a spitting motion, making her feel “embarrassed” and “scared”, before he eventually left and the police apprehended him.

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When interviewed, Hicks, who was last in court on June 25 for two shoplifting charges, denied being in Nando’s and said he had nothing to say about the Aldi offences.

In mitigation, Ms Hillier said Hicks denied the assault because his memory was “hazy” after drinking and could not remember being in Nando’s, but accepts that if the manager says it did happen, then it must have happened.

She also added that he knocked over a cardboard advertising board on the security scanner at Aldi and it fell “like a paper cup”, but he accepts he should not have gotten frustrated and pushed it over.

Additionally, the court heard that Hicks, who used to be homeless, was now sofa-surfing after officers broke down the door to raid his flat - later realising it was the wrong address - and the council said it could take three months to repair.

Hicks was ordered to pay £419 in total, including £100 compensation to the Nando's manager, and he must complete an 18 month community order.

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