Shocking CCTV footage has shown the moment a thug attacked a high street Tesco store smashing £3,000 worth of windows.
The incident saw Jason Sultana, 42, threaten a staff member, swing a rope with metal hooks and throw a lottery sign after becoming enraged at being kicked out of the shop, a court heard.
Sultana was approached by a female staff member at the Cardiff store on October 19, when he was seen walking up and down the health beauty aisle with a large Ikea bag.
As he passed her shouted aggressively at the woman “What the f*** are you looking at you c***, I’ll come back up and slit you up.”
Following the abuse, the manager at the store in Cowbridge Road East told the man to leave, before instructing a male staff member to physically remove him.
During a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Tom Roberts said there was a scuffle and Sultana was seen throwing an advertisement stand and swinging the bag he was carrying at the female member of staff.
Sultana then left and returned with a length of black rope with metal hooks on the end, which he swung at objects and people in the store.
The door was then closed, but the defendant returned a third time with a metal chair which he used to smash the windows, causing £3,000 worth of damage. He also caused £200 worth of damage to security fittings.
Sultana, of the Huggard Centre, Cardiff, later pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, affray and criminal damage. The court heard he had 32 previous convictions including offences of dishonesty, with his most recent offences including battery, criminal damage, theft, burglary, and shoplifting.
The female member of staff said in a personal victim’s statement: “This has affected me massively, it has affected my mental health and has left me frightened. I had to take some time off work which affected me financially as a single parent.
“The incident caused me to stop eating and sleeping. Three days afterwards I had a breakdown. I have increased the dosage of my medication to help me cope with my mental health. I shouldn’t have to put up with this behaviour, I come to work to support my family.”
The male member of staff added that he was facing a Tesco investigation as a result of the incident which could result in him being sacked.
Ruth Smith defending said her client believed the catalyst of his behaviour was the result of being pushed out of the store which he claimed caused him to lose his temper.
Sultana was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence.
Judge David Wynn Morgan said: “Your behaviour that day was quite disgraceful. It doesn’t require much imagination to understand the fear that must have been in the mind of those who were having to deal with you, and those going about their daily business going shopping in Tesco.”
