A 33-year-old Bristol man got himself so drunk that he kicked open the glass door of a convenience store in Cheltenham and threatened to attack the shop worker with a broken bottle, a court heard on Sunday (July 17).

Prosecutor Nicola Wood told Gloucester Crown Court that Michael George, 33, of Trubshaw Close, Bristol, went to the Red Apple Garage in Gloucester Road, Cheltenham, at 10.40pm on January 23, 2022, and 'kicked the glass door so hard it shattered.'

"Store worker Sabhir Ahmed moved as far away as he could from George and saw him go to the till area of the shop. He also saw him pick up a number of items including milk, bread and bottles of wine, but he only walked out of the store with the alcohol.

"Once outside he broke one of the bottles of wine on a car parked on the forecourt and then turned towards Mr Ahmed ordering him to 'come with me'.

"Mr Ahmed was frightened by these demands but kept his distance from George. The man who owned the car which had been used to smash the wine bottle on tackled George and brought him to the ground. He restrained him until the arrival of the police."

The court heard that in his police interview George explained that he was visiting a friend and had consumed too much alcohol that day. He left his friend to catch a train but had no memory what happened for the rest of that evening.

George accepted that he was the person seen in the CCTV footage and he was embarrassed by his behaviour. He stated he wanted to pay for the damaged caused and wanted to write a letter of apology to Mr Ahmed.

The prosecutor concluded: "This was clearly committed on impulse and there was no planning involved."

Joe Maloney defending said: "George is deeply embarrassed by his appearance at court today. There is a pre-sentence report and three references which have been submitted to the court along with a letter of apology from George.

"Up to now he has lived a law-abiding life. George states that he has learnt from this powerful lesson and has completely moderated his drinking. He mostly only consumes non-alcoholic beverages today.

"He feels the kicking down of the door was a degrading experience, having seen it all on CCTV. He is very sorry about his actions and has written a letter of apology to Mr Ahmed.

"I believe there is a very real prospect of rehabilitation and would comply with anything probation requires."

George admitted committing the burglary on January 23, 2022 and possessing an offensive weapon in public on the same date.

The judge, Recorder Mathew Turner told George: "You were drunk and aggressive when you entered a petrol station with a convenience store in Cheltenham earlier this year.

"You smashed the glass door and gained entry and you stole bottles of wine, one of which was converted into an offensive weapon. However, you were tackled by another customer, and he brought you down.

"I accept this was an isolated incident and was conducted completely out of character. However, you put Mr Ahmed through an awful ordeal."

The Recorder sentenced George to a six-month prison sentence suspended for a year and ordered him to complete 10 rehabilitation days and to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also ordered George to pay court costs of £425 and compensation to the store owner of £248.42 for the damage of the door and the stolen bottles of wine and £250 to Mr Ahmed along with a victim surcharge.