A Nando’s worker who lost his job when he threatened a love rival with a meat cleaver in front of colleagues and diners has been spared jail.
Lewis Tassell, 20, had been working a shift at the restaurant in Kettering, Northamptonshire, when someone he knew from school entered at about 9pm on May 9 last year.
The man asked to speak to Tassell, wrongly believing his partner had cheated on him with the Nando's worker.
To the shock of diners and staff, Tassell grabbed a cleaver from the grill and waved it around behind the till in full view of everyone, before a colleague took it from him.
The worker later left the restaurant and was found with drugs when he was arrested by police.
He admitted threatening a person with a bladed article and possession of cannabis when he appeared at Northampton Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Shabbir Issat said the victim was told Tassell was on a break but the pair spoke when he walked up to the counter before the "situation escalated".
Mr Issat said: "He has walked over to where the grill is, picked up a meat cleaver, raised it and pointed it at him."
CCTV footage played in court showed Nando's staff intervening, with one female employee taking the blade from Tassell's hand.
Tassell asked to address magistrates before he was sentenced to apologise for his behaviour.
He said: "I'm sorry. This is not me. I accept whatever you are going to give me.
"I'm sorry. I should not have done this. I acted out. I'm sorry."
Ben Brown, defending, said Tassell was initially placid and it only escalated when the victim made an alleged threat to his family, telling him 'he knew where they lived'.
He said Tassell then picked up the blade and told him to get out - with the weapon in his hand for about three seconds - and that the incident was out of character.
He said: "He is extremely remorseful about what's happened...he is just not that kind of lad.
"He wants to put this behind him."
Chair of the bench Suzanne Gibbard replied: "Don't worry, it's not going to be bad and you are going to go home.
"You are 20 years old and sometimes you do things without thinking. This was clearly the case - we can see that from the CCTV.
"But there are consequences for actions and at this young age you are going to learn that."
Tassell was was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 10 days of rehabilitation activities and 80 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £114.
