Tesco Express, London Road, staff threatened by man

John Copson has warned he could face jail for threatening to hit someone over the head with a Prosecco bottle and using racist abuse in the incident at Tesco Express in London Road, on October 8 this year. 

Copson, of Lansdowne Road, Worcester, admitted threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place; assault; and using threatening, abusive, insulting words, and behaviour causing harassment, alarm, and distress when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (December 15). 

COURT: John Copson walking out of Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said Copson went into the store on his bike, blocking the entrance for customers. 

Miss Peart said Copson dipped his hands in an ice cream tub and was eating and drinking from it, before being asked by staff if he was going to pay.

Copson then took a bottle of Prosecco and held it above his head threatening to hit staff member Jake Pinder-Hampton, the court heard. 

After being dragged out the store on his bike, Copson called staff members fat and used racist abuse against them.

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Copson also shouted: "I'm not scared of prison, I will go back", before throwing a fire extinguisher. 

The prosecutor said staff had been so frightened that when Copson was out the store they had locked it to prevent him from coming back in. 

When police arrived Copson even tried to escape on his bike, before being caught up and being arrested. 

GARAGE: Tesco Express at Esso petrol station had to close due to Copson's behaviour (Image: Newsquest)

Miss Peart added Copson's previous offences included one for possession of an offensive weapon. 

Mark Turnbull, defending, said he accepted that the offence was serious enough for magistrates to consider custody. 

Mr Turnbull explained Copson had been drinking that day and was confused about what was going on when he committed the offence, shown through his "strange" behaviour.

COURT: John Copson appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court

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After their deliberations Jonathan Wiltshire, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Copson they wanted to know more about him to give him a "fair" sentence, ordering a pre-sentence report. 

He said magistrates wanted an "all options" report, which means Copson could go to prison. 

Copson, who was given unconditional bail, was told to return to the court for sentence on January 20.