A SHOP lifter who attacked a supermarket security guard is facing a jail sentence, magistrates warned this week. Luke Howe had just been challenged for walking out of the Tesco store with a stolen bottle of wine and a whisky gift set, when he turned on se

A SHOP lifter who attacked a supermarket security guard is facing a jail sentence, magistrates warned this week.

Luke Howe had just been challenged for walking out of the Tesco store with a stolen bottle of wine and a whisky gift set, when he turned on security officer Raymond Woods.

"Howe put him in a head lock," prosecutor Scheherazade Haque told Fenland magistrates on Tuesday. "Mr Woods was taken to hospital by paramedics. An X-ray showed he had no broken bones, but he had a cut to his right eye, and some bruising. His head was sore, and he needed eye drops."

Mr Woods had first noticed Howe in the store, because he was trying to pull security tags off bottles of alcohol, said Miss Haque.

During the incident outside the Tesco store in Wisbech on July 3, drunken Shane Letting was abusive and made threats to members of staff and customers.

"He got within a few inches of a customer's face, and asked "Do you want some?" added Miss Haque. "He puffed up his chest, and threatened some people." A male customer restrained Letting, and he was arrested.

At Wisbech courthouse on Tuesday, Howe, 23, of Kinderley Road, Wisbech, admitted theft and assault; and Letting, 19, of Jubilee Cottages, Tilney All Saints, admitted threatening behaviour.

On behalf of Letting, solicitor John Clarke said: "The offence was influenced by drink. It happened at 9am, and by 3pm he was still too drunk for police to deal with him. He does apologise for his behaviour."

The court ordered reports on both men, and adjourned sentencing until August 13.